title: Is patch testing cost-effective?
abstract: Costs for dermatitis can be evaluated against the costs and potential benefits of patch testing on the basis of data available from several sources. Consideration of cost for an individual patient suggests that costs become neutral and benefits become positive if the dermatitis is persistent and multiple physician visits are required. The appropriate use of patch testing should yield a positive test result 30% to 65% of the time.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Ochsner Clinic and Alton Ochsner Medical Foundation, New Orleans, LA 70121.
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Rietschel
mesh_terms: D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D006801:Humans; D010328:Patch Tests; D012882:Skin Tests