Skin prick tests involve the introduction of a tiny amount of allergens into the surface layer of the skin, where there is a rich source of mast cells. A small swelling surrounded by redness will appear after 15 minutes if there is sensitivity to the allergens.
Skin prick tests are quick, safe and accurate. A large variety of allergenic extracts are commercially available for testing. However, the skin must be in good condition and the patient must not have taken antihistamines beforehand. Patients with active dermatitis or urticaria (hives) should not be tested because increased skin sensitivity might result in false positive results.
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