Challenges in traditional skin prick allergy testing

At the University Hospital Leuven, traditional skin prick testing (SPT) presented several challenges. While widely used, the SPT method is time-consuming, involves repetitive tasks, and is prone to variability, especially in a hospital setting with multiple medical staff performing the tests.
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Prof. Dr. Van Gerven, ENT specialist at the University Hospitals Leuven, explains: “The manual nature of the process often introduced variability, particularly when multiple medical staff were involved.” Additionally, patients, especially children, found the numerous individual pricks distressing. “Some children were so anxious that it made the entire procedure challenging for them, their parents, and our team,” she recalls.

Introducing S.P.A.T.

A pioneer in medical research and innovation in Belgium, University Hospitals Leuven was among the first to adopt the Skin Prick Automated Test (S.P.A.T.) device.  
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Prof. Dr. Van Gerven collaborated closely with Hippo Dx across three pivotal clinical studies to validate the device’s effectiveness in improving the skin prick allergy testing. In the third study, she co-led the clinical trial alongside Prof. Dr. Mark Jorissen.

The first study, conducted at the University Hospitals Leuven, confirmed the technology’s ability to enhance reproducibility, reduce failed pricks and allergen consumption, and improve patient experience compared to SPT. “It was clear that the level of reproducibility was superior to traditional methods,” Prof. Dr. Van Gerven notes.

The second study, conducted at the AZ Herentals hospital, further confirmed that S.P.A.T. provides more consistent results compared to SPT, across different allergens and it is also more comfortable for the patient. “This consistency allows us to compare results across patients and over time with much greater confidence,” she says.

In the third study, conducted in different Belgian and German hospitals, the AI-Assisted Readout feature was tested and proven to interpret results with high accuracy and speed compared to readout without the AI-Assisted Readout feature. “AI-Assisted Readout not only matches our diagnostic abilities but also provides an added layer of reliability and saves time, which is invaluable in a busy hospital setting,” she emphasises.

Enhanced accuracy, patient comfort, and efficiency

The introduction of the S.P.A.T. device brought significant improvements to the allergy testing process in the University Hospitals Leuven. “The consistency of the results was surprisingly positive. It is remarkably consistent and convenient for both the patient and our team, minimising manual and repetitive tasks, while offering digital results”, according to Prof. Dr. Van Gerven.  
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Patient comfort also improved, with minimal discomfort reported, even among children. “Parents appreciate that all pricks are performed in one go, avoiding the distress associated with multiple pricks”, she mentions. Another major benefit of the S.P.A.T. device was the time saved for medical staff, allowing them to focus on other critical tasks while maintaining top-notch patient care.