Soluprick Controls

This medicinal product is for diagnostic use only.

Positive and negative control of skin-prick tests for diagnosis of specific IgE-mediated allergy.

A skin-prick test (SPT) is performed by administering a drop of the product on the surface of the skin. The skin is penetrated using a lancet. The skin-prick test may be performed on the volar side of the forearm or on the back.

Soluprick Positive control (Histamine dihydrochloride 10 mg/ml) is applied as reference to evaluate the general reactivity of the skin-prick test, and Soluprick Negative control is applied to evaluate unspecific reactions.

Skin-prick testing should be performed by experienced personnel only.

Paediatric population

Prick testing in children is already possible after the first year of life depending on the child's constitution, but in general should not be performed before the age of 4.

Instructions for use

• The skin-prick test is normally performed on the volar side of the forearm. Alternatively the test may be performed on the patient´ s back.

• The skin must be dry and clean. It is recommended to wash the test area with an alcoholic solution.

• Each test solution and the Positive and the Negative control are applied in droplets on the skin placed at least 1.5 cm. apart. The forearm should be at rest. Apply the Positive and the Negative control after the active tests.

• The superficial layer of the skin is pierced through the droplet perpendicular to the skin using a 1 mm tip standardized lancet. A new lancet must be used for each allergen.

• Apply a slight, constant pressure for approximately 1 second. Draw the lancet straight back.

• Surplus allergen extract is removed with a tissue. It is important to avoid contamination between the allergens.

• The reactions are read after 15 minutes.

• A positive reaction is a wheal with or without erythema.

• The result may be transferred to a test form as follows: Mark the contour of the actual wheal. Transfer the result to the test form with the adhesive side of transparent tape, where after the reaction can be read on graph paper.

• A wheal with a diameter of at least 3 mm is considered to be a positive reaction.

• For the Negative Control no reaction is expected. In case of a positive reaction with the Negative Control the skin-prick test in general must be regarded as not reliable.

Acute or chronic atopic dermatitis in the area used for testing.

Hypersensitivity to phenol or any other excipient in Soluprick Positive and Negative Control

Caution should be exercised if the patient is suffering from one or more of the following conditions: Any diseases seriously affecting the patient's general condition, skin lesions in the area used for testing, dermatographism, dermatitis and active eczema in the area used for testing (test should be postponed). These conditions may influence the interpretation of the test outcome.

In case of axillary lymph node dissection, it is preferable to perform the skin tests on the opposite arm.

Skin-prick testing should be performed by experienced personnel.

In extremely rare cases an anaphylactic reaction may occur after skin-prick testing with active allergen.

For skin-prick tests with active allergen performed concomitantly with Soluprick Positive and Negative Control, an emergency kit with a ready for use adrenaline syringe must always be available. The concomitant use of beta-blocking agents may influence efficiency of anti-anaphylactic treatment (e.g.adrenaline).

Concomitant treatment with anti allergic or other medication may affect the result of the test.

It is recommended that patients who are going to have a skin-prick test performed discontinue treatment with:

Corticosteroids in doses lower than 30 mg of prednisone/prednisolone per day for up to one week do not reduce the response of the skin-prick test.

Long-term treatment with oral low dose glucocorticoids (doses lower than 10 mg of prednisolone per day) need not be discontinued prior to the skin-prick test. Locally applied steroid drugs must be avoided in the area use for testing 2-3 weeks prior to the test.

Antidepressants may interfere with the result of the skin-prick test due to potential effect on the histamine H1 receptors. Tricyclic antidepressants may interfere with the result of the skin-prick test for up to 1 week after the last administration of antidepressants. There is no data regarding interactions with other antidepressants. Therefore, the rate of elimination and the H1 antihistamine potency of the given antidepressants should be taken into consideration. The risks of discontinuing treatment with an antidepressant should carefully be considered with the benefits of the skin-prick test.

The risk of performing skin-prick test during pregnancy must be carefully evaluated together with the patient in order to identify the specific clinical need for identifying the trigger allergen during the period of pregnancy.

Skin-prick testing with Soluprick Positive and Negative Control may be performed during lactation.

Soluprick Positive and Negative Controls have no influence on the ability to drive and use machines.

Soluprick Positive control (histamine dihydrochloride) will cause a local reaction with development of wheal and erythema with local itching after the test. In some cases a slight local pain may appear (See Section 4.2).

Administration site reactions:

Reporting of suspected adverse reactions

Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the MHRA Yellow Card Scheme. Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard.

No event of overdose is reported upon correct usage. Undesirable effects, in the form of exaggerated pharmacological effects, can be caused by wrong administration.

Pharmacotherapeutic group: Test for allergic diseases

ATC Code: V04 CL

Soluprick Positive Control: Histamine will cause an imitation of the local allergic reaction within 10-20 minutes, characterized by development of a wheal and erythema. The wheals and erythema are caused by the vaso-active effect of histamine.

Soluprick Positive control is applied epicutaneously to obtain a local reaction. Soluprick Negative control is used to evaluate unspecific reactions. The amount of solution applied epicutaneously at skin-prick testing corresponds to 3 x 10^-3  μ l.

No non-clinical studies have been carried out.

Many years of clinical experience with the compounds used in the formulation confirms an acceptable level of safety in the amounts administered to the patient.

Phenol

Sodium dihydrogen phosphate dihydrate

Disodium phosphate dehydrate

Sodium chloride

Glycerol

Water for injections

Sodium hydroxide (for pH adjustment)

Hydrochloric acid (for pH adjustment)

Not applicable

3 years.

6 months after first opening of the vial.

Store in a refrigerator (2° C - 8° C).

2 ml solution in a clear type I glass vial closed with a bromobutyl rubber stopper and a propylene screw cap.

The solution is ready for use.