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Gordon L. Sussman, MD
University of Toronto (Ontario)

JAMA. 1992;267(19):2603-2604.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

In Reply.

—This is not the first patient reported to have a possible anaphylactic reaction with the latex prick skin test.¹ Any potent allergen skin test in exquisitely sensitive patients has this risk. The latex testing extract is properly labeled as "may cause anaphylaxis."

However, if properly done, the latex prick skin test is very safe. We have safely skin tested 115 patients,^2,3 20 of whom had severe latex allergy. Our experience agrees with that of others.⁴ The skin test needs to be carefully watched and immediately wiped clean with isopropyl alcohol after a positive result. This may be as soon as 5 to 7 minutes after the test.

I question whether the patient reported by Bonnekoh and Merk had an anaphylactic event. There was minimal local reaction at the test site and, in patients with anaphylaxis, we generally see a large local wheal and flare. The . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

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