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Quantitative sensory testing (QST) has become a widely used method to evaluate different submodalities of the somatic sensory system (predominantly) in patients with neuropathic pain. QST consists of 7 tests measuring 13 parameters in order to assess and quantify the perception of temperature, touch, pain, pressure, and vibration. The German Research Network on Neuropathic Pain implemented a standardized QST protocol including a defined testing order of the measurements. Accordingly, subjects tested with QST undergo thermal before mechanical testing. In the present study, we investigated the effect of testing order on the results of QST. Twenty healthy subjects were tested twice, 1 week apart with 2 different QST testing orders: the standardized testing order according to the German Research Network on Neuropathic Pain and a modified testing order in which mechanical stimuli were applied before …