Recommendations for patch testing with patient’s own materials in occupational dermatology

Abstract

Allergic contact dermatitis is one of the most common occupational skin diseases. Due to the limited availability of commercial patch test preparations, patch testing patient’s own material (POM) is of great importance in the diagnosis of occupational contact dermatitis. In a research project (FB 317b) funded by the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV), a comprehensive assessment of the quality of patch testing with POM in individuals with suspected occupational skin diseases was carried out for the first time in Germany. The initial results show considerable deficiencies in the documentation and in some cases also in the performance of patch testing POMs. Therefore, recommendations for patch testing POM and in particular patch testing with workplace materials are presented.