Reproducibility of Histamine Skin Prick Test

Abstract
The reproducibility of skin prick test using histamine dihydrochloride 1, 5, and 10 mg/ml was tested by three nurses in five non‐atopics in a double‐blind trial. The variations day‐to‐day, within‐day, between and for the same tester were calculated. Seventy‐five percent of wheal reactions obtained by histamine 1 mg/ml were < 15 mm2. With histamine 5 mg/ml there were only a few wheals < 15 mm2and none at all with bistamine 10 mg/ml. The mean coefficient of variation of wheals > 15 mm2 was between 20–30%, in contrast to figures between 30‐60% with wheals < 15 mm2. No significant day‐to‐day or within‐day variation was shown concerning histamine wheal areas. It is suggested that histamine dihydrochloride 10 mg/ml should replace histamine dihydrochloride 1 mg/ml as the positive reference in routine skin prick tests and biological standardization.

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