THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LATEX SKIN PRICK TEST RESPONSES AND CLINICALALLERGIC RESPONSES

Background: Allergic responses to latex have been reported more freque ntly in the past 5 years. Although commercial skin prick test solution s are available and can be used in the diagnosis of latex allergy in s ome countries, the characteristics of patients sensitized to later rel ative to their skin test responses have not been reported. Objective: The purpose of this study is to relate the clinical characteristics of patients with later sensitivity to the size of their latex skirt pric k test response. Methods: A retrospective review of patients who were attending a hospital-based allergy and asthma clinic and who had posit ive skin test responses to a commercial latex skin test solution was u ndertaken. Results: Of 47 patients who had skin test responses to late x, 36 had a mean wheal diameter at least 3 mm greater than the negativ e control (diluent). Sixty-eight per cent were health care workers. Th ere was a positive association between the size of skin test response and severity of latex-induced symptoms (p < 0.001). A history of banan a sensitivity was also associated with larger skin test responses (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The size of the skin prick test response to latex solution that is commercially available in Canada reflects the severit y of latex-induced clinical allergic responses.