The diagnosis of hymenoptera hypersensitivity.

Venom skin testing was performed in 216 patients with histories of systemic or local reactions following insect stings. Seventy-six percent of the patients with histories of systemic reactions and 77% of the patients with histories of local reactions had positive skin tests up to 1 mcg/ml. The majority of vespid sensitive patients had positive skin tests to all the vespid species. Significant (p less than .001) cross-reactivity is suggested by regression analysis. This study confirms the value and safety of venom skin testing in hymenoptera hypersensitivity. The implications for venom immunotherapy of the findings are also discussed.