Appraisal of skin tests with food extracts for diagnosis of food hypersensitivity

Abstract
Seventy‐six children aged 5 months to 15 years who exhibited a net weal of 3.0 mm or greater to a puncture skin test with one or more of fourteen foods were subjected to double‐blind food challenge. Confirmed reactions to double‐blind food challenge were found to occur only with peanut, milk, egg and soybean. Puncture skin tests with 1:20 w/v concentration of food extracts identified all subjects who exhibited an adverse reaction during the double‐blind food challenge. Performance of intradermal skin tests did not identify any additional subjects who reacted clinically to double‐blind food challenge.