Allergy laboratory

Skin prick test

Summary

Science

Clinical

Background

To effectively manage someone’s allergies, it is important to know what he/she is allergic to so that it can be avoided. A simple method of doing this is to expose the individual to a range of potential antigens by placing a drop of allergen extract on the patient’s skin and pricking through the drop. If the person is allergic (atopic) to any of the applied substances then the area will become red and slightly raised - a wheal and flare reaction.

• Science