title: Beyond flat weals: validation of a three-dimensional imaging technology that will improve skin allergy research.
abstract: Skin-prick tests (SPTs) are a standard way to test for sensitizations to allergens, but to date, techniques that allow for high-quality measurements of the resulting weals for research purposes are lacking. In this study, we assessed a new three-dimensional (3D) imaging technology for its accuracy and consistency. We found that this new technology showed very little intraoperator and interoperator variation for repeated measurements of a model of known area by each of two operators. We also found that repeated measurements of the same object over 4 months showed virtually no variation. Finally, 3D imaging was superior to traditional ruler measurements for assessing SPT reactions to histamine and allergen. For high-quality measurements of SPT reactions, 3D imaging is accurate, consistent and reliable.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: R V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: dos Santos
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mlynek
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Martus
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maurer
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens; D006632:Histamine; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D007428:Intradermal Tests / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D015588:Observer Variation; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology*; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014741:Video Recording
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D006632:Histamine