Background: The aim of our study was to compare clinical significance and economical factors of commonly used standard skin prick tests (SPT) method with new, modified and more handy way of performing SPT.
Methods: Twenty-one subjects [with an average age of 23 years (SD +/- 2.72)] with known sensitivity to examined allergen extracts were tested with histamine, negative control solution and standard allergen extracts (Allergopharma, Reinbeck, Germany). SPT were applied to the volar surface of randomly assigned forearm with two methods: standard technique using lancet needle to prick the epidermis under small drop of extract and tested method using lancet needle which was dipped in extract before prick. In this method all extracts were placed in marked, small, plastic chambers.
Results: Mean wheal to histamine was 5.49 (standard method) and 5.01 (modified method). There was no statistical difference between the standard and modified method for size of wheal to histamine (P = 0.654) and to allergen extracts (n = 36, P = 0.824, Wilcoxon test). Economical analysis revealed that examined SPT technique is cheaper than standard method.
Conclusion: Examined method may be considered to be an alternative for performing SPT as it is safe, cheaper and more convenient than standard technique.
Summary statement: Comparison of standard and modified SPT method revealed the new method to be more economical.