Diagnosis of Hymenoptera hypersensitivity by skin testing with Hymenoptera venoms

This double-blind study provides evidence that skin testing with dialyzed Hymenoptera venoms is a more accurate, reliable method of diagnosing hypersensitivity to the sting of honeybee, yellow jacket, yellow hornet, white-faced hornet, and wasp than is skin testing with the corresponding whole body diagnostic allergenic extract. Furthermore, the incidence of false-positives was greatly reduced by using the dialyzed Hymenoptera venom (HDV)^* * Center Laboratories, 35 Channel Dr., Port Washington, N. Y. diagonostic. In this clinical trial, most sensitive individuals had skin test reactions greater than the diluent control at concentrations of 1 μg/ml or below. Levels of venom diagnostic of 100 μg/ml appeared to produce nonspecific local irritation. Skin test with whole body diagnostic allergenic extract did not produce a consistent differentiation between sensitive and nonsensitive individuals. No untoward reactions were seen using the dialyzed Hymenoptera venom (HDV) diagnostic.