Evaluation of Skin Testing Reagents for Penicillin Allergy
![]() |
The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government. Read our disclaimer for details. |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01818336 |
Recruitment Status :
Completed
First Posted : March 26, 2013
Results First Posted : January 4, 2017
Last Update Posted : January 4, 2017
|
- Study Details
- Tabular View
- Study Results
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
A self- or parent-reported history of penicillin allergy excludes approximately 10% of the US population from receiving penicillin (Kerr 1994, Kagy, Blaiss 1998, Solensky et al. 2000, Neugut et al. 2001). Yet approximately 80% of patients labeled as allergic to the penicillins can safely take these antibiotics without fear of a life-threatening reaction (Gadde et al. 1993, Macy et al. 1997). The outcomes of this erroneous classification of patients include unnecessary denial of an effective and well-tolerated class of antibiotics, which are often the treatment of choice.
The primary aim of skin testing with the Penicillin Skin Test Kit is to identify subjects at very low risk of developing acute IgE-dependent reactions when given a penicillin or cross-reacting drug. The negative predictive value (NPV) of skin testing is assessed by oral challenge with a penicillin.
Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
---|---|---|
History of IgE Dependent Reaction to a Penicillin Product | Drug: Penicillin skin test kit | Phase 3 |
This is a prospective, open-label investigation of skin testing with the Penicillin Skin Test Kit in subjects at least 18 years of age with a self-reported history of possible IgE-dependent penicillin hypersensitivity.
At screening on Day 1, subjects and their parents/legal guardians (if applicable) will sign the informed consent form/ pediatric assent form. Following consent/assent, demographic information and medical history will be obtained, including prior and current medication use. Subjects will also be asked if they have had a respiratory infection in the past 2 weeks or antibiotics within the past 4 weeks. A physical examination will be performed, along with measurements of vital signs and, in subjects >5 years of age with active asthma, peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR). A urine pregnancy test will be obtained for all female subjects of childbearing potential.
The skin test procedure will first involve puncture testing. Skin test reagents will include the Penicillin Skin Test Kit, histamine (positive control), and sodium chloride (negative control). Subjects who have negative skin puncture test results to any of the drug antigens contained within the Penicillin Skin Test Kit will then undergo intradermal testing in duplicate. Subjects who have a positive reaction to one or more puncture or intradermal tests contained within the Penicillin Skin Test Kit will be discharged from the study. However, subjects with any positive skin test to drug antigens in the Penicillin Skin Test Kit will be asked to return for retesting (puncture and intradermal) in 4 weeks.
Subjects who have negative puncture and intradermal test results will be given the oral amoxicillin challenge, which will be comprised of a single, full oral dose of amoxicillin. The purpose of the oral amoxicillin challenge is to confirm lack of allergy and confirm the NPV (Negative Predictive Value) of skin testing. Subjects will be monitored at the study site for 1 hour following oral amoxicillin challenge and then sent home. The study site will follow-up by telephone with all subjects (or their parents/legal guardians in the case of young children) ≥72 hours after administration of the oral amoxicillin challenge.
Adverse events (AEs) will be recorded from administration of the Penicillin Skin Test throughout the 3-day study period as spontaneously reported by subjects or observed by the site staff.
Two normal subjects (i.e., no history of penicillin allergy) will be skin tested at each site to provide data on skin test specificity.
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 481 participants |
Allocation: | N/A |
Intervention Model: | Single Group Assignment |
Masking: | None (Open Label) |
Primary Purpose: | Diagnostic |
Official Title: | Confirmatory Study to Examine Negative Predictive Value (NPV) and Safety of Skin Testing With PRE-PEN, a Minor Determinant MIxture (MDM) of Penicillin Antigens, and Amoxicillin Reagent Against an Oral Challenge With Amoxicillin |
Study Start Date : | December 2012 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | June 2013 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | June 2013 |
Arm | Intervention/treatment |
---|---|
Experimental: all subjects
Intervention: Penicillin skin test kit Subjects with negative intradermal tests will be given single oral amoxicillin challenge dose and followed for 72 hours for IgE dependent reactions. |
Drug: Penicillin skin test kit
Allergy skin testing is done by puncture and intradermal. If all tests negative, subjects receive an oral amoxicillin challenge.
Other Names:
|
- Negative Predictive Value [ Time Frame: 72 hours ]The primary endpoint was the negative predictive value (NPV), which was estimated as p = percentage of n history-positive subjects with negative skin tests from the Penicillin Allergy Skin Test Kit (as confirmed with an overall negative result for the skin puncture/intradermal testing) who do not experience an IgE-dependent hypersensitivity reaction within 72 hours of the oral amoxicillin challenge.

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contacts provided below. For general information, Learn About Clinical Studies.
Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | Yes |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Subject must have provided written, informed consent prior to performance of any procedures.
- Subject can be male or female and must be generally healthy and at least 18 years of age.
- Subject must have a reported history of possible IgE dependent reaction to a penicillin or its semi-synthetic derivatives, including one or more of the following: anaphylaxis, decreased blood pressure and/or diminished consciousness, upper or lower airway obstruction, angioedema, urticaria, and/or generalized pruritic rash.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Subject who has exhibited a systemic allergic reaction to previous skin-test administration of PRE-PEN, MDM, or individual penicillin metabolites (benzylpenicillin, benzylpenicilloate, or benzylpenilloate).
- Subject who is pregnant or lactating.
- Subject who has had a respiratory infection within the past 2 weeks or has taken antibiotics of any kind during the past 2 weeks (except for topical antibiotics for acne).
- Subject who has taken an oral H1-antihistamine within 72 hours prior to skin testing.
- Subject who has taken hydroxyzine or doxepin within 7 days prior to skin testing.
- Subject who has had a penicillin reaction, including semisynthetic penicillins, within the last 6 weeks prior to skin testing.
- Subject who has received an investigational drug within 30 days prior to skin testing or who plans to participate in a study in which an investigational drug will be administered within the 30 days following skin testing.
- Subjects who have planned hospitalizations or medical or surgical procedures during the 72 hours following the oral amoxicillin challenge.
- Subjects who plan to take any new prescription or over-the-counter medications or herbal supplements during the 72 hours following the oral amoxicillin challenge.
- Subject who has had a previous adverse reaction to penicillin or semisynthetic derivative and subsequently tolerated a penicillin or semisynthetic derivative without an adverse experience.
- Subject who, in the investigator's opinion, has any other social or medical condition (e.g. fever, rash) that may place the subject at increased risk or may confound the interpretation of the study.

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT01818336
United States, Alabama | |
Alabama Allergy & Asthma Center | |
Homewood, Alabama, United States, 35209 | |
United States, Arizona | |
Allergy Associates of Tucson | |
Tucson, Arizona, United States, 85716 | |
United States, California | |
Allergy & Asthma Clinical Research | |
Walnut Creek, California, United States, 94590 | |
United States, Connecticut | |
Fairfield County Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Assoc., Inc. | |
Norwalk, Connecticut, United States, 06851 | |
Ct. Asthma & Allergy Center LLC | |
West Hartford, Connecticut, United States, 06119 | |
United States, Florida | |
Windom Allergy | |
Sarasota, Florida, United States, 34233 | |
United States, Georgia | |
Atlanta Allergy and Asthma Clinic | |
Atlanta, Georgia, United States, 30060 | |
United States, Minnesota | |
Mayo Clinic | |
Rochester, Minnesota, United States, 55905 | |
United States, Missouri | |
Washington University Medical School | |
St. Louis, Missouri, United States, 63110 | |
United States, Nebraska | |
Midwest Allergy & Asthma Clinic PC | |
Omaha, Nebraska, United States, 68130 | |
United States, Oregon | |
Corvallis Clinic | |
Corvallis, Oregon, United States, 97330 | |
United States, Tennessee | |
Allergy & Asthma Care | |
Germantown, Tennessee, United States, 38138 | |
United States, Washington | |
Northwest Asthma & Allergy Center | |
Redmond, Washington, United States, 98052 |
Study Director: | N. Franklin Adkinson, Jr., MD | AllerQuest LLC |
Responsible Party: | AllerQuest LLC |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT01818336 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
AQ-2010-001 AllerQuest LLC ( Other Grant/Funding Number: AQ-2010-001 ) |
First Posted: | March 26, 2013 Key Record Dates |
Results First Posted: | January 4, 2017 |
Last Update Posted: | January 4, 2017 |
Last Verified: | November 2016 |
penicillin allergy |
Amoxicillin Penicillins Penicillin G Anti-Bacterial Agents Anti-Infective Agents |