Traditional allergy testing: time-consuming and inconvenient

Dr. Lantsoght, an ENT specialist based in Knokke-Heist, Belgium, has always sought efficient and accurate methods for allergy testing. Describing his personal and professional experience with the manual skin prick method, he finds it, “time-consuming and very cumbersome”. The conventional skin prick test, which requires manually pricking each spot one by one, was not only uncomfortable for patients, especially for young children, but also inefficient for the practice. Additionally, traditional testing lacks digital documentation of the results and relies on a one-time, on-the-spot manual readout. If, for any unforeseen reason, the readout was not performed within 15 minutes after the pricking, the results were no longer valid, necessitating a second test.

The shift to S.P.A.T., Skin Prick Automated Test

A turning point came when Dr. Lantsoght encountered the S.P.A.T. device, developed by Hippo Dx, at a medical conference. “I immediately felt that this is something I have been looking for my entire career”, he recalls. The S.P.A.T. device automates the allergy testing process, significantly reducing the time and effort required while increasing precision and ease of use.

Enhanced efficiency, accuracy, and patient comfort

Since integrating the S.P.A.T. device into his practice, Dr. Lantsoght has experienced substantial improvements in efficiency and patient experience. He highlights three major benefits of the S.P.A.T. device, “First and foremost, the device is incredibly user-friendly.  Even with small children, it is very quick and minimally invasive”.
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Secondly, the device standardises the distance between prick spots, applies 12 pricks simultaneously in just a few seconds, and ensures consistent allergen application. This results in highly reliable and accurate results. “The allergen is placed correctly, and all points are pricked evenly, ensuring enhanced accuracy and minimising false negatives”, he emphasises.  
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The AI-Assisted Readout gives a suggested diagnosis based on the wheel size. “The AI-tool is truly incredible. It’s a reliable friend that watches over your shoulder and gives an objective analysis in a very accurate manner”, he adds.
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Lastly, Dr. Lantsoght points out the significant time saving the device offers: “It’s simple, fast, and allows us to perform more tests, effectively reducing patient waiting times for allergy testing appointments. We have significantly increased our testing capacity, leaving more time for dedicated patient care”.
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This also results in a better collaboration between general practitioners and specialised physicians. General practitioners can now refer their patients for skin prick allergy testing to Dr. Lantsoght rather than prescribing a blood test with less accurate results. “They truly appreciate that their patients no longer need to wait months for an appointment. The process is streamlined, which means we can handle more referrals without increasing our workload” notes Dr. Lantsoght.