Skin Prick Testing (items 12000-12005)
Explanatory note · departmental guidance
Skin prick testing and Intradermal testing should always be performed in a medical setting with the ready availability of medical practitioners competent to treat systemic allergic reactions, and appropriate resuscitation equipment. Because intradermal testing carries a higher risk of anaphylaxis it should only be performed in a hospital setting (or equivalent) by either a specialist or consultant physician with proficiency and experience in all aspects of skin testing for allergy.
Item 12003 should only be used by appropriately trained doctors such as allergist immunologists or equivalently trained medical practitioners. An alternative to Skin Prick Testing (SPT) is serum specific IgE food allergen testing. Serum specific IgE (ssIgE) allergy blood testing to food panels is not recommended.
Item 12004 should only be used by appropriately trained doctors such as allergist immunologists or equivalently trained medical practitioners.
Item 12005 should only be used by appropriately trained doctors such as allergist immunologists, anaesthetists or equivalently trained medical practitioners.