title: Additive value of patch testing custom epoxy materials from the workplace at the occupational disease specialty clinic in Toronto.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) to epoxy resins is one of the major causes of occupationally induced ACD. Testing of custom epoxy materials from the workplace is often performed to diagnose ACD.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to investigate the additive value of patch testing custom-made epoxy materials.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively analyzed outcomes of 24 patients who were tested to custom epoxy resin materials between January 2002 and July 2011.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For 11 patients (46%), the testing of their materials from work had no additional value (negative results). For 13 patients (54%), there was an additional value of testing custom allergens. Of those, 7 patients (54%) had positive reactions to custom epoxy materials that reinforced the test results found with the commercially available allergens, and 6 (46%) patients had positive reactions only to custom epoxy materials. Therefore, for 6 patients (25%), there was a definite additive value of testing custom epoxy materials because the allergy was discovered with custom testing and not with the commercially available allergens.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Because of the high percentage (54%) of patients with additive value of patch testing custom epoxy materials, we think that the inclusion of actual workplace epoxy materials should be strongly considered when patch testing patients with occupational epoxy exposure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, St Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Marie-Claude
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Houle
authors.forename: D Linn
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Holness
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dekoven
authors.forename: Sandy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Skotnicki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000209:etiology*; D004853:Epoxy Resins / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005148:Facial Dermatoses / Q000139:chemically induced; D005260:Female; D006229:Hand Dermatoses / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010328:Patch Tests / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004853:Epoxy Resins