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The additive value of patch testing with patients' own products at an occupational dermatology clinic |
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| Authors: | Dan Slodownik Jason Williams Kathryn Frowen Amanda Palmer Melanie Matheson Rosemary Nixon |
| Affiliation: | Occupational Dermatology Research and Education Centre, Skin and Cancer Foundation, Victoria, Australia;, Dermatology Unit, Monash Medical Centre, Clayton, Victoria, Australia;, and Centre for Molecular, Environmental, Genetic &Analytic Epidemiology, School of Population Health, University of Melbourne, Australia |
| Abstract: | Background and objectives: Patch testing with commercially available kits detects only 70–80% of relevant allergens in patients with contact dermatitis. This is not ideal, especially when occupational issues are being evaluated. This study analyses our data regarding reactions to patients' own products. Methods: In a 5-year period, 1532 patients were assessed in our occupational dermatology clinic. Results: We found that 101 patients (6.6%) reacted to their own samples. In 20 (1.3%) cases, reacting to their own samples was the only clue for detecting the responsible allergen. In 59 (3.9%) cases, testing with their own samples reinforced their reactions to commercial allergens. Conclusions: We found the overall additive value of testing with patients' own products to be 5.2%. This is not a low proportion considering the 20–30% false negative rate when patch testing. Patch testing with patients' own samples, appropriately diluted should be undertaken whenever possible. |
| Keywords: | allergic contact dermatitis allergy hand eczema irritant contact dermatitis own substances samples |