RT Journal
A1 Macy E
T1 HOw predictive is a history of penicillin allergy?
JF JAMA
JO JAMA
YR 2001
FD September 12
VO 286
IS 10
SP 1174
OP 1175
DO 10.1001/jama.286.10.1173
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.286.10.1173
AB 
The history of penicillin allergy, including potential IgE-mediated
reactions such as anaphylaxis and hives, does not correlate with skin test
positivity,2 the closest test to a criterion
standard for allergy. Mild, possibly nonallergic reactions such as delayed-onset
rashes do not increase the probability of a negative skin test and a history
of anaphylaxis does not increase the odds of a positive test. The bottom line
is that penicillin allergy histories are too unreliable to rechallenge a patient
without documenting safety by penicillin skin testing first.