Automated versus manual skin prick testing in children

In this video, Prof Dr Eckard Hamelmann presents a prospective randomised study comparing an automated skin prick test device with conventional manual skin prick testing in children and adolescents undergoing allergy assessment.

A total of 160 patients aged 5-17 years were randomised, of whom 157 were included in the final analysis: 80 underwent automated testing and 77 received a manual skin prick test. Pain and discomfort were assessed after testing using the Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale (WBFPRS) and the Face-Legs-Activity-Cry-Consolability (FLACC) scale.

Automated testing was associated with significantly lower patient-reported discomfort (WBFPRS) compared with manual testing. No procedures were discontinued in the automated-testing group, suggesting that the method may be easier to tolerate and perform, particularly in younger children.

These findings indicate that automated skin prick testing may provide a more comfortable and practical alternative to manual testing in paediatric allergy clinics. Further development, including automated or artificial intelligence-supported interpretation of test results, may also help improve the objectivity and standardisation of skin prick testing.