My daughter  has had 3 allergy tests so far since  she was 4 months old, she's now 2 ....they draw little lines about 2 cm's apart then put the liquid on each line followed by a little scratch with something sharp....It's not a pin prick..My daughter hasn't cried at any of her tests. We travel to Westmead Hospital to have hers done and they are fantastic there 

My friends daughter had one done a couple of months ago, for egg anda few other things and they took a blood test.  No pin pricks.

Nikki had the pin "pricks" in her back. Actually they kinda scratched the skin but she didn't feel it. For her it was the insane itching after that got to her so make sure if he has a reaction that they give some phenergen after. Aside from that she was fine.

Cheers Raven

 The last allergy test I had done a few years ago, they still did it with pin pricks, hope there is another way now...but I think they still have to break the surface of the skin to test the substance they put there for a reaction.

Hope all goes well for Josh.

Love Janice

 I havent had one but as far as I know they draw some boxes and (either poke in or just put on) some consentrated alergens like dog,cat,egg,wheat etc. and they couple of mins later they will show up as little bumps if he is allergic and they have different degrees of reaction from like 1-5 I think.

But im sure someone who has had one will beable to help you more :)