[The comparison of reactions in skin prick test performed with the standardized lancet and the injection needle].
Achieving reproducible results with the skin prick test method depends on a certain amount of experience, the depth of skin penetration by the device which is used and reducing the number of false positive reactions caused by contamination of the device by allergen extract previously pricked. The aim of the study was to compare the results of SPT performed with "single puncture device" using lancet or injection needle with "multiple puncture device" using the same needle wiped in alcohol between pricks.


METHODS
Twenty adult patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis with known sensitivity to grass pollen allergen and ten control subjects entered the study. SPT were applied to the volar surface of both forearms on two separate visits during which fixed sequence of pricking histamine, allergen and saline solutions (Allergopharma, Reinbeck, Germany) was maintained. On the first visit new device was used for each prick: injection needles on one forearm and lancets on the other. On a second visit (after a wash-out period of 4 weeks) injection needle changed between each prick on one forearm was compared with using the same needle wiped in alcohol between pricks on the other forearm.


RESULTS
There was no statistical difference between the three tested methods for the size of wheel to histamine (p = 0.5), saline (p = 1) and allergen (p = 0.54) in group of SAR patients as well as for the size of wheel to histamine (p = 0.41) and saline (p = 1) in control subjects. Analysis of wheel diameters for histamine and allergen in group of SAR patients demonstrated comparable degrees of precision for all tested methods (CV%): there was no statistical difference between CV% achieved for the size of histamine (p = 0.73); as well as for allergen wheal (p = 0.32).


CONCLUSIONS
The results of SPT achieved by using only one injection needle rinsed in alcohol for multiple pricks seem to have similar quality, being more economical than standard techniques in which puncture device is changed between each test.
Semik-Orzech
Aleksandra
A
Slaski Uniwersytet Medyczny w Katowicach, Katedra i Klinika Pneumonologii. pneumo@slam.katowice.pl
Barczyk
Adam
A
Pierzchała
Władysław
W
D000328:Adult; D005542:Forearm; D006801:Humans; D009339:Needles / Q000145:classification*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012882:Skin Tests / Q000295:instrumentation*