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Updated: Jul 16, 2026

Basophil Activation Test for Allergy Diagnosis

Basophil Activation Test for Allergy Diagnosis

Published on: May 31, 2021

Penicillin allergy skin testing: what do we do now?

Jeremy A Schafer¹, Noe Mateo, Garry L Parlier

¹College of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA.

Pharmacotherapy

|March 27, 2007

Summary

Penicillin allergy skin testing accurately identifies true allergies, despite overreporting. If needed, desensitization or alternative testing methods like RAST can be used for penicillin therapy.

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Published on: October 14, 2014

Area of Science:

Immunology
Allergy and Clinical Immunology
Pharmacology

Background:

Drug-induced anaphylaxis is rare, but penicillin and beta-lactam antibiotics are common causes.
Penicillin allergies are frequently overreported, leading to unnecessary avoidance of essential antibiotics.
Accurate diagnosis of penicillin allergy is crucial for appropriate patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the diagnostic methods for penicillin allergy.
To discuss the implications of the removal of a key diagnostic reagent.
To highlight alternative diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for patients with suspected penicillin allergy.

Main Methods:

Review of existing literature on penicillin allergy diagnosis and management.
Discussion of penicillin allergy skin testing procedures, including major and minor determinants.
Exploration of alternative diagnostic tests such as radioallergosorbent test (RAST) and laboratory synthesis of determinants.
Consideration of penicillin desensitization protocols.

Main Results:

Penicillin allergy skin testing is effective for identifying true allergies when performed correctly.
The discontinuation of a commercial major determinant product has limited diagnostic capabilities.
Alternative methods like RAST and desensitization offer viable options for managing suspected penicillin allergy.

Conclusions:

Accurate diagnosis of penicillin allergy is essential to avoid unnecessary antibiotic restrictions.
Skin testing, when available, remains a valuable tool for penicillin allergy assessment.
Alternative diagnostic and therapeutic strategies are crucial in the absence of complete skin testing reagents.