title: A practical guide to carrying out skin-prick allergy testing.
abstract: Skin-prick testing is one of the cheapest and most widely available methods for diagnosing allergies. With ever-increasing numbers of nurses performing the tests in nurse-led clinics, it is essential that the procedure is fully understood and carried out correctly, particularly in terms of patient safety. This article discusses the indications, contraindications, advantages and disadvantages of skin-prick testing and details how to carry out the procedure.
authors.affiliation: Outpatients Department, Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
authors.forename: Kirsty
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Duce
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gouldstone
mesh_terms: D000075202:Contraindications; D004282:Documentation; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007428:Intradermal Tests / Q000379:methods* / Q000451:nursing*; D008487:Medical History Taking; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D010328:Patch Tests / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D018579:Patient Selection