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Scratch Test

By , About.com Guide

Updated November 08, 2010

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Scratch Test

A puncture skin test is a variation of a scratch test for allergies, allowing for multiple skin tests with one motion, thereby decreasing the overall amount of time and discomfort associated with skin testing.

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Definition: The most accurate form of allergy skin testing that involves the introduction of a small amount of allergen into the top layer of the skin, resulting in a raised bump (wheal) and redness (flare) within a few minutes if allergic antibodies specific to that allergen are present in the skin.
Also Known As: prick skin test, puncture skin test, epicutaneous skin test
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