Table 1 Summary of Safety Recommendations for Diagnostic Allergy Procedures (for details, see the text)

With Inhalant and food allergens

Both O and H

(a) mandatory

(c) not required

20 min

Field skin testing (prick test only), for epidemiology studies, may also be carried out by trained medical personnel.

Skin testing with hymenoptera venoms

Both O and H

(a) mandatory

(c) not required

20 min

Skin testing with drugs

O or H depending on the risk assessment

(a) mandatory Comment: not applicable for patch testing

available on site (a) or available within 30 min (b) depending on the risk assessment

20 min

Patients at risk: Patients who are tested for anaphylactic reactions, or with a history of complicating conditions such as asthma, mastocytosis and severe cardiac disease

Skin testing with occupational allergens

Both O and H

(a) mandatory

(c) not required

20 min

Skin testing with latex

Both O and H

(a) mandatory

(b) available within 30 min

20 min

For some patients waiting time should be extended to 40 min

Bronchial challenge with allergen

Both O and H^a

(a) mandatory

(b) available within 30 min

7 h

^aalthough outpatient clinic is acceptable the hospital setting is recommended

Bronchial challenge with lysine aspirin (Lys ASA BPT)

Both O and H

(a) mandatory

(b) available within 30 min

1 h

Nonspecific bronchial provocation tests (NS-BPT)

Both O and H

(a) mandatory

(c) not required

not required

Nasal allergen provocation tests

Both O and H

(a) mandatory

(b) available within 30 min

30 min

Nasal aspirin provocation tests

Both O and H

(a) mandatory

(b) available within 30 min

30 min

Nasal endoscopy

Both O and H

(d) not required

(c) not required

not required unless complications occur

Food challenges

Both O and H

(a) mandatory

(a) available on site or (b) available within 30 min, depending on risk assessment

1-2 h after negative and 4 h after positive food challenge

Oral drug provocation test

O or H depending on risk assessment

(a) mandatory

(a) available within 5 min, or (b) available within 30 min, depending on risk assessment

at least 2 h; hospitalization is recommended after severe reaction

Insect sting challenge

Both O and H

(a) mandatory

(b) available within 30 min

at least 2 h until symptoms have disappeared