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Skin Tests for Immediate Hypersensitivity

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Contact Dermatitis

Abstract

Skin testing for immediate hypersensitivity serves as a very useful tool in the diagnostic workup of a suspected allergic patient, but it is mandatory to bear in mind that the tests measure sensitization and not clinical disease. Most widely used are skin prick tests (SPT), whereas intracutaneous (intradermal) testing should be restricted to cases where skin prick testing is negative and only performed with sterile material. Any soluble allergen can be used for SPT, as long as is it noninfectious or nontoxic, but care should be taken to avoid false positive or negative reactions. Other skin tests like skin application food test, open application test, or scratch-patch test should not be used routinely outside specialized settings.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology and Allergy Centre, Odense University Hospital, 5000, Odense, Denmark

    Carsten Bindslev-Jensen

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  1. Carsten Bindslev-Jensen
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Correspondence to Carsten Bindslev-Jensen .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. Dermatology, Amtssygehuset Gentofte, Niels Andersens Vej 65, Hellerup, 2900, Denmark

    Jeanne Duus Johansen

  2. Klinikzentrum Mitte, Hautklinik, Städtische Kliniken Dortmund, Beurhausstr. 40, Dortmund, 44137, Germany

    Peter J. Frosch

  3. Labo. Dermatochimie, Institut le Bel, rue Blaise Pascal 4, Strasbourg CX, 67070, France

    Jean-Pierre Lepoittevin

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© 2011 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Bindslev-Jensen, C. (2011). Skin Tests for Immediate Hypersensitivity. In: Johansen, J., Frosch, P., Lepoittevin, JP. (eds) Contact Dermatitis. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-03827-3_28

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-03827-3_28

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-03826-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-03827-3

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