title: Prevalence of delayed hypersensitivity to the European standard series in a self-selected population.
abstract: There are limited reports of the prevalence of positive reactions in healthy adults to patch tests with standard allergens; there are no recent comprehensive studies from Australia. Healthy adult volunteers (n = 219) from the Western Australian community were patch tested using the European standard series of allergens. Seventy-seven (35%) reacted to at least one allergen, positive patch tests being most prevalent to nickel sulfate (20%), potassium dichromate (9%), cobalt chloride (6%) and fragrance mix (4%). Prevalence of positive patch tests to nickel and chromate was higher than that reported for another healthy population, which may stem from self-selection of volunteers or geographical differences, including extent of exposure to allergens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Western Australia, Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre, Nedlands, Australia. Jane.Greig@uwa.edu.au
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Greig
authors.forename: C F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Carson
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Stuckey
authors.forename: T V
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: Riley
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects; D002424:Caustics / Q000009:adverse effects; D003035:Cobalt / Q000009:adverse effects; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007509:Irritants / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009532:Nickel / Q000009:adverse effects; D010328:Patch Tests / Q000379:methods; D018579:Patient Selection; D010476:Perfume / Q000009:adverse effects; D011192:Potassium Dichromate / Q000009:adverse effects; D015995:Prevalence; D014904:Western Australia / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D002424:Caustics; D007509:Irritants; D010476:Perfume; D003035:Cobalt; C029938:nickel sulfate; D009532:Nickel; C018021:cobaltous chloride; D011192:Potassium Dichromate