About Patchtesting.info

The site

The website www.patchtesting.info is owned by acdegroot publishing. At its conception, it was primarily seen as a tool for providing and disseminating information on the 3rd Edition of Patch Testing, test concentrations and vehicles for 4350 chemicals, and as a web shop for purchasing the book.

Contact allergen database

Later, the concept for the website has broadened. Another current main feature is the development of the Contact Allergen Database. In this database, key information on chemicals for which contact allergy has been described will be presented including (common) name, Merck Index Name, INCI Name, RIFM Name, Other Synonyms, CAS Registry Number, EINECS Number, Chemical Formula, Structural Formula, Category, Presence/applications, Sensitization experiments, Contact allergy, Irritant contact dermatitis, Photosensitivity, Immediate contact reactions, Other non-eczematous contact reactions, Patch test sensitization, Systemic side effects, Miscellaneous side effects and Commercial availability.

This is obviously a major project and it will take some time before the database contains enough information to be useful enough to justify it being accessible on-line. If you are interested in the database, please subscribe to our Newsletter and we will keep you fully informed on the progress of the project and we will let you know when you will be able to consult the database on-line.

The Art of Patch Testing

'It is easy to perform patch test, but it is difficult to reach the right conclusion', is Etain Cronin's now classic aphorism. There are many patch testing pitfalls, e.g., false-positive or false-negative reactions due to testing the (presumed) allergens in concentrations that are either too high or too low, or using inadequate test vehicles. To overcome these problems, the 3rd Edition of Patch Testing has been written, providing published test concentrations and vehicles for 4350 chemicals and large numbers of products and groups of (structurally or functionally related) chemicals.

But even if the 'proper' test concentrations and vehicles are used, many other variables may also influence the outcome of patch tests and thereby affect their reliability. It may well be stated that it is an 'Art' to properly perform patch tests and reach the right conclusions. This website would like to contribute to this 'Art of Patch Testing' by pointing out in a scholarly manner the various pitfalls that may be encountered during testing and mistakes that can be made and more in general provide information on how to perform patch testing properly. This part of the website is currently under construction.

Other modules on the website

As we move along, new possibilities for the website may emerge, for example providing a forum for dermatologists interested in contact dermatitis, where they may share their patch testing experience or can ask their colleagues advice on specific problems encountered. Also, the development of a section for patients is an attractive possibility. Information on products in which specific allergens may be expected can be very helpful to patients suffering from allergic contact dermatitis in avoiding 'their' allergen and thus preventing relapses of dermatitis.

We welcome your suggestions

The website www.patchtesting.info has been developed and is maintained by the team of Akara BV, Meppel, The Netherlands. It is designed specifically in such a manner that any adaptations, new implementations, enlargements or alterations can easily and quickly be managed. We cordially invite you to give us any comments on the website you may have and especially suggestions for improvement or developing new modules which may be useful for anyone interested in contact dermatitis. We would be grateful for you to Contact us.

Anton C. de Groot, MD, PhD