Table 1.

Comparison of international guidelines published for performing drug intradermal tests.

	ESCD (2)	EAACI (3)	BSACI (4)	SFAR (5)	Macy et al. (6)
Volume injected	0.04 ml sequential dilutions in saline or phenolated saline	0.02–0.05 ml	0.03 ml	0.02–0.05 ml	0.02 ml with a 27-gauge tuberculin
Measurement of the Wi	Yes Raising a wheal of 4–6 mm	Yes Raising a bleb of 3 mm	Yes Raising a bleb of 4–6 mm	Yes Wheal ≤ 4 mm	No
Time interval to immediate skin test reading (minutes)	30	15–20	20–30	20	15
Criteria for immediate positivity	Wheal ≥ 10 mm	W20 ≥ Wi+ 3 mm with surrounding flare	A wheal that is ≥3 mm larger than the initial bleb with surrounding flare	W20 ≥ Wi × 2	Wheal ≥5 mm with a surrounding erythema
Criteria for delayed positivity	Papule at 24 h	24–72 h infiltrated erythema	Not defined	Not defined	Not defined
Site	Extensor surface of the arm	Volar aspect of the forearm (or other regions)	Not defined	Back, arm or forearm	Not specified
Negative control with saline	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes, with Tris-buffered saline

ESCD, European Society of Contact Dermatitis; EAACI, European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology; BSACI, British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Societe Francaise d'Anesthesie et Reanimation.

Wi, diameter of initial wheal just after injection; W20, diameter of the wheal 20-min post-injection.