BACKGROUND: Skin prick test (SPT) or Phadiatop, a multi-allergen IgE screening 
test, was used as a tool for detecting aeroallergen sensitization.
OBJECTIVE: To compare SPT and Phadiatop as a tool for diagnosis allergic 
rhinitis (AR) using the nasal provocation test (NPT) as a comparative standard.
METHODS: Children aged 5-18 years with rhinitis symptoms more than 6 times in 
the past year were enrolled. SPT to 13 common aeroallergens, serum for 
Phadiatop, and NPT to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p) were performed. NPT 
to mixed cockroach (CR) were performed in children who had CR sensitization and 
negative NPT to Der p. Children who had a disagreement between the result of SPT 
and Phadiatop or having negative results were evaluated for specific IgE (sIgE) 
to common aeroallergens.
RESULTS: One hundred-forty children were enrolled with the mean age of 9.8 ± 3 
years, 56% were male. Of 92 children (65.7%) with positive SPT to any 
aeroallergens, 88 children (95.6%) were sensitized to house dust mite (HDM). NPT 
showed positive results in 97 children (69.3%). Of 48 children who showed 
negative SPT, 4 children (8.3%) had sIgE to aeroallergens but NPT was positive 
in 1 child. Eighty-eight children (62.9%) had positive tests for Phadiatop and 4 
(4.5%) of them had negative results for NPT to Der p. Among 52 children who had 
negative results for Phadiatop, 4 children (7.6%) had sIgE to aeroallergens but 
NPT was positive in 2 children (3.8%). SPT and Phadiatop showed 94.2% agreement: 
with Kappa 0.876, p < 0.001. Using NPT as a comparative standard for diagnosis 
for AR, SPT showed a sensitivity of 89.6% and specificity of 88.3% and Phadiatop 
provided the sensitivity of 88.6% and specificity of 95.3%.
CONCLUSIONS: SPT to aeroallergen and Phadiatop have good and comparable 
sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of AR in children.