Jeanne D. Johansen1, Kristiina Aalto-Korte2, Tove Agner3, Klaus E. Andersen4, Andreas Bircher5, Magnus Bruze6, Alicia Cannavó7, Ana Giménez-Arnau8, Margarida Gonçalo9, An Goossens10, Swen M. John11, Carola Lidén12, Magnus Lindberg13, Vera Mahler14, Mihály Matura15, Thomas Rustemeyer16, Jørgen Serup3, Radoslaw Spiewak17, Jacob P. Thyssen1, Martine Vigan18, Ian R. White19, Mark Wilkinson20 and Wolfgang Uter21

1 Department of Dermato-Allergology, National Allergy Research Centre, Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, 2900 Hellerup, Denmark,

2 Occupational Medicine, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, 00250 Helsinki, Finland, 3Department of Dermatology, Bispebjerg Hospital, University of Copenhagen, 2400 Copenhagen, Denmark, 4Department of Dermatology and Allergy Centre, Odense University Hospital, University of Southern Denmark, 5000 Odense, Denmark, 5Allergy Unit, Department of Dermatology, University Hospital and University of Basel, 4031 Basel, Switzerland, 6Department of Occupational and Environmental Dermatology, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, SE-20502 Malmö, Sweden, 7Hospital Municipal de Vicente López ‘Profesor Bernard Houssay’, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 8Department of Dermatology, Hospital del Mar, Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, 08003 Barcelona, Spain, 9Department of Dermatology, University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-075 Coimbra, Portugal, 10Contact Allergy Unit, Department of Dermatology, University Hospital K. U. Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium, 11Department of Dermatology, Environmental Medicine, Health Theory, University of Osnabrueck, D-49069 Osnabrueck, Germany, 12Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, SE-17177 Stockholm, Sweden, 13Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Örebro, SE-70185 Örebro, Sweden, 14Allergy Unit, Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany, 15Unit of Occupational and Environmental Dermatology, Centre for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, SLSO, SE-11365 Stockholm, Sweden, 16Department of Dermatology, VU University Medical Centre, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 17Department of Experimental Dermatology and Cosmetology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 30-688 Krakow, Poland, 18Department of Dermatology, CHRU Besançon, 25030 Besançon Cedex, France, 19Department of Cutaneous Allergy, St John’s Institute of Dermatology, St Thomas’ Hospital, London, SE1 7EH UK, 20Spire Hospital, Leeds, LS8 1NT UK, and 21Department of Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, University of Erlangen/Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany doi:10.1111/cod.12432 Correspondence: Jeanne D. Johansen, Department of Dermato-allergology, Gentofte Hospital, 2900 Hellerup, Denmark. Tel: +4538677301. E-mail: 该Email地址已收到反垃圾邮件插件保护。要显示它您需要在浏览器中启用JavaScript。 Conflicts of interests: KAK, JDJ, AC, CL, ML, MM, JS, IRW: No conflicts. TA: Giving talks at meetings arranged by Leo Pharma and GlaxoSmithKline; KEA: Advisor to SmartPractice, Hillerød. Medical Director for Dermatological Investigation (DIS). Research support from IFRA and RIFM; AB: Educational grants from Novartis, GSK, Vifor; MB: member of the REXPAN, collaboration with SmartPractice on metal allergens; AGA: Medical Advisor for Uriach Pharma, Genentech, Novartis research grants by Intendis – Bayer, Uriach Pharma, Novartis, educational activities sponsored by Uriach Pharma, Novartis, Genentech, Menarini, GSK, MSD, Almirall; MG: Participated in the EDEN study on fragrance allergy. Since January 2014 participatation in the National Advisory Board for NOVARTIS (omalizumab for urticaria). Lectures on immunology of psoriasis for Portuguese dermatologists paid by Janssen (2012/13); AG: Departmental service (contact allergy website) financially supported by cosmetic and a few pharmaceutical companies; lecture on allergic contact dermatitis from cosmetics for GSK; lectures to pharmacists and dermatologists on dermatological preparations (contact allergy, irritancy) for Fagron; SMJ: Lecture fees from Almirall, Biogen-Idec, Galderma; VM: Has received lecturing fees from SmartPractice, Almirall Hermal, GlaxoSmithKline, Basilea; TR: Grants for the department from Almirall, Novartis, Zilverlon, Stallergenes; RS: Shareholder and scientific adviser of the Polish representative of Chemotechnique Diagnostics; JPT: Sold a cobalt spot test to Smart Health, Az, USA; MV: Grants from GlaxoSmithKline, Unilever, l’ARCAA; MW: Attended a drug advisory board meeting for GlaxoSmithKline; WU: Accepted travel reimbursement and partly honorarium for presentations given to cosmetic industry (associations) by them. Lecture fee from Almirall Hermal for educational lectures on contact allergy. Accepted for publication 6 May 2015

Summary

The present guideline summarizes all aspects of patch testing for the diagnosis of contact allergy in patients suspected of suffering, or having been suffering, from allergic contact dermatitis or other delayed-type hypersensitivity skin and mucosal conditions. Sections with brief descriptions and discussions of different pertinent topics are followed by a highlighted short practical recommendation. Topics comprise, after an introduction with important definitions, materials, technique, modifications of epicutaneous testing, indi vidual factors influencing the patch test outcome or necessitating special considerations, children, patients with occupational contact dermatitis and drug eruptions as special groups, patch testing of materials brought in by the patient, adverse effects of patch testing, and the final evaluation and patient counselling based on this judgement. Finally, short reference is made to aspects of (continuing) medical education and to electronic collection of data for epidemiological surveillance.

Key words: contact allergy; guideline; patch testing; review.