Penicillin Allergy Testing

We are pleased to announce that penicillin allergy testing is now available in our office. The skin test, called Pre-Pen testing, was not available for quite some time but has recently become available to allergists to test for penicillin allergy. Testing should be considered for children in whom the diagnosis of penicillin allergy is unclear. Cases would include children who developed a mild rash many days into treatment with a penicillin antibiotic (i.e. amoxicillin, augmentin) rather than those patients in whom the allergy was clear cut (including symptoms like wheezing, hives, or swelling). In effect, testing would be able to clear children for whom the "penicillin-allergy" was actually a viral rash that happened to be concomitant with antibiotic usage.

It is important to distinguish true allergic reactions from viral rashes because children may be treated for a particular infection with a less effective or more toxic antibiotic because a class of antibiotics (penicillins) had to be avoided. This can lead to antibiotic failure or resistance, which can be costly and prolong illness. For this reason, if you suspect an ambiguous penicillin allergy, ask your pediatrician about possible allergy testing for your child.

For an allergy consultation for Pre-Pen testing, please call our office to make an appointment with Dr. Marshall Goldberg (board certified in allergy/immunology and pediatrics).