A study carried out by allergists at the Clínica Universidad de Navarra and published in the high-impact journal Clinical and Experimental Allergy shows that Nexkin DSPT has the potential to establish itself as an alternative to the traditional measurement of allergic reactions in skin prick tests. This device, developed by the Clínica Universidad de Navarra, helps detect hives, bean-shaped lumps that cause itching, and digitizes the results of the responses that occur in the skin.
He Dr. Gabriel Gastamanzadirector of Department of Allergologystates that, usually, “the measurement of the allergic reaction is carried out with a ruler that quantifies the response in the skin. In the intradermal teststhis manual method does not have the precision that would be desirable to detect the growth – a few millimeters – that must occur in a positive test. However, the Nexkin DSPT automatically calculates the size of the wheal with 3D laser technology and reconstructs the geometry of the patient’s arm providing exact information.”
The study data to validate its operation has been obtained with intradermal tests carried out on 194 participants. The objective of the research has been to compare the sensitivity between the technological and manual methods. To do this, the researchers have introduced a positive control with histamine and a negative control with saline solution. Subsequently, the reactions were analyzed twice: immediately and 20 minutes after the test.
The results show that the sensitivity and specificity of the device in reading the tests are very close to 100%. “The Nexkin DSPT is capable of detecting more accurately. Its use will simplify the process and avoid inconveniences of manual reading that generally occur due to human intervention,” says Dr. Gastaminza.
On the other hand, the precision of this device has made it possible to verify that the papules of the negative controls change in size in the 20 minutes following the simple injection of saline solution. Dr. Gastaminza explains that it is an important finding that “will require more studies in the future, because it can modify the positivity criteria. In addition, it will be important to know what causes the change in size of the papule itself.”
On the other hand, the Dra. Paola Quanan allergist at the Clínica Universidad de Navarra, has presented the first results of a study that compares test data obtained with the Nexkin DSPT with results of clinical analyzes using a modern molecular allergen detection platform: the ALEX ® (Allergy Explorer, Macro Array Diagnostics). The objective of this project, worked together with Dr. Alfonso Calvo Alonso, training specialist at the Department of Allergology, has been to validate both measurement systems for allergies. According to Dr. Quan, “having this information is important because, although discrepancies have been seen in the data obtained with each system, we can conclude that both complement each other.” This specialist explains that “the Nexkin DSPT provides data on allergic responses that occur directly on people’s skin, while blood tests are performed in the laboratory, looking for the allergy molecule. The clinician does not have to give up one method, but should pay attention to the information that both offer.”
Bibliographic reference: Morales-Palacios MP, Núñez-Córdoba JM, Tejero E, Matellanes O, D’Amelio CM, Gastaminza G. (2024) Evaluation of a Novel Automated Allergy Intradermal Skin Test Reader: A Diagnostic Accuracy Study. Clin Exp Allergy.
