Skin testing is done for three major reasons: (1) to detect sensitivity to allergens such as dust and pollen, (2) to determine sensitivity to microorganisms believed to cause infection, and (3) to determine whether cell-mediated immune functions are normal. This chapter only briefly discusses the test that detects sensitivity to allergens; most of the discussion in this chapter focuses on skin tests used to determine sensitivity to pathogens.
Reference Values
Normal
Negative reactions indicate lack of exposure to a specific infection (e.g., TB-producing agent) or sensitivity to a specific allergen (e.g., mold).
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