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The additive value of patch testing with patients' own products at an occupational dermatology clinic
Author(s) -
Slodownik Dan,
Williams Jason,
Frowen Kathryn,
Palmer Amanda,
Matheson Melanie,
Nixon Rosemary
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
contact dermatitis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.524
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1600-0536
pISSN - 0105-1873
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0536.2009.01610.x
Subject(s) - patch testing , dermatology , medicine , occupational exposure , hand eczema , patch test , value (mathematics) , allergic contact dermatitis , contact dermatitis , allergy , mathematics , immunology , emergency medicine , statistics
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.