INTRADERMAL TESTING IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF ALLERGIC CONTACT-DERMATITIS -A REAPPRAISAL

Contact hypersensitivity may be diagnosed with patch testing or intrad ermal testing. Although these methods have been used earlier in parall el, patch testing has gradually become the only method in routine diag nosis of contact allergy. Recent findings in corticosteroid contact hy persensitivity have shown that patch testing is not always an optimal method, especially when poor penetrants are used. Therefore, a reappra isal of intradermal testing is presented, based on the literature. Stu dies employing both patch and intradermal testing are reviewed and the advantages and disadvantages of intradermal tests as compared to patc h tests in contact allergy diagnostics are discussed. We find that it might be worthwile to evaluate whether contact allergy to compounds ot her than corticosteroids may be easier to detect with intradermal than patch test.