Allergology
Skin prick tests: what you need to know before your appointment
Which medicines to stop, how long the test takes and how the results are read.
Skin prick tests are the standard investigation for immediate respiratory and food allergies.
Before the test
Stop taking antihistamines five to seven days beforehand. Topical corticosteroids must not be applied to the forearms.
During the test
A drop of each allergen is placed on the forearm, and the skin is then lightly pricked with a lancet. The results are read after twenty minutes.
Afterwards
A positive reaction does not always mean an allergy: your doctor interprets it in the light of your symptoms.
