Importance of chamber size for the outcome of atopy patch testing in children with atopic dermatitis and food allergy

J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2002 Sep;110(3):515-6. doi: 10.1067/mai.2002.126659.

Abstract

Because the small backs of young children offer little space for atopy patch testing, it would be helpful to use smaller chambers. We therefore compared 6-mm chambers with the 12-mm chambers used in previous studies. We performed 55 double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenges in 30 children (17 boys, 13 girls) aged 3 to 58 months (median, 13 months). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and efficiency results show that the 12-mm chamber size yields much better results than the 6-mm chamber size. Therefore, 12-mm cups should be used for atopy patch tests with food, even in infants and small children.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Allergens
  • Child, Preschool
  • Dermatitis, Atopic / diagnosis*
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Female
  • Food Hypersensitivity / diagnosis*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Patch Tests / instrumentation*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Skin Tests

Substances

  • Allergens