Skin prick tests and allergy diagnosis.
Skin testing remains an essential diagnostic tool in modern allergy practice. A significant variability has been reported regarding technical procedures, interpretation of results and documentation. This review has the aim of consolidating methodological recommendations through a critical analysis on past and recent data. This will allow a better understanding on skin prick test (SPT) history; technique; (contra-) indications; interpretation of results; diagnostic pitfalls; adverse reactions; and variability factors.
Antunes
João
J
Serviço de Imunoalergologia, Hospital Dona Estefânia, Lisbon, Portugal. jdiasantunes@hotmail.com
Borrego
Luís
L
Romeira
Ana
A
Pinto
Paula
P
D000075202:Contraindications; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D006287:Health Planning Guidelines; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D010323:Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012882:Skin Tests / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data