title: Patch test results from the Mayo Clinic Contact Dermatitis Group, 1998-2000.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patch testing is a diagnostic tool for the evaluation of patients with suspected allergic contact dermatitis. A standard series of allergens similar to that used by the North American Contact Dermatitis Group (NACDG) is used at Mayo Clinic.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Our aim was to report the results of patch testing with a standard series at Mayo Clinic from July 1, 1998, to Dec 31, 2000 and to compare our findings with those of the NACDG during the same period.
  
  
  METHODS
  The results of patch testing with the standard series at Mayo Clinic were examined. Positive reaction rates were compared between Mayo Clinic and the NACDG.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the 30-month period, 1324 Mayo Clinic patients were patch tested with a standard series of allergens (mean, 60 allergens), whereas the NACDG standard series during this period included 50 allergens. Overall, 917 patients (69.3%) had at least one positive reaction and 606 patients (45.8%) had two or more positive reactions. The 10 allergens used both by Mayo Clinic and by the NACDG that most frequently caused positive reactions were nickel sulfate hexahydrate, balsam of Peru (Myroxylon pereirae), neomycin sulfate, cobalt chloride, fragrance mix, potassium dichromate (0.25%), thimerosal, bacitracin, formaldehyde, and glutaraldehyde. Statistically significant differences in positive reaction rates (P < .05) were observed for 12 of the 43 allergens common to both Mayo Clinic and the NACDG.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With large standard patch test series, one can identify commonly encountered and potentially relevant contact allergens.
authors.affiliation: Mayo Clinic Contact Dermatitis Group, Department of Dermatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Wetter
authors.forename: Mark D P
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Yiannias
authors.forename: Janet F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Suzanne M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Connolly
authors.forename: Rokea A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: el-Azhary
authors.forename: Sara A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Farmer
authors.forename: Debra D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Fett
authors.forename: Janis S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Diane L Nordberg
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Linehan
authors.forename: Donna M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.forename: Arnold L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Schroeter
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000485:Allergens; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010328:Patch Tests
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens