PEDIATRICS Vol. 82 No. 6 December 1988, pp. 935-937
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Controversial Techniques in Allergy

GAIL G. SHAPIRO MD1 and JOHN A. ANDERSON MD2

1 Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, School of Medicine, Seattle
2 Department of Pediatrics, Division of Allergy and Immunology, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit

Ten years ago a commentary appeared in Pediatrics entitled "Allergy Skin Testing: Science or Quackery?"1 This statement was a rejoinder to a commentary in Pediatrics in 19752 that included allergy skin testing in a list of laboratory procedures that are abused for financial gain. The gist of the reply was that allergy skin tests themselves were not the problem because they were valid bioassays for IgE antibody to specific antigens. Abuse and quackery set in when numerous, indiscriminately chosen skin tests were performed instead of an appropriate history, physical examination, and carefully selected tests based on that evaluation.

The allergy skin test was at that time and remains today the most sensitive test for specific allergic antibody in the skin, its presence there reflecting its presence in the blood and respiratory tract.