Prausnitz-Küstner reaction

Pronunciation: prows′nits kist′nĕr

Definition: a test for the presence of immediate hypersensitivity in humans; test serum from an atopic individual is injected intradermally into a normal subject; the normal subject is challenged 24–48 hours later with the antigen suspected of causing the immediate hypersensitivity reaction in the atopic subject, usually in the form of a wheal flare. (Note: P-K tests are no longer performed because of risk of transmitting disease.)

Synonym(s): P-K test

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