title: Comparing reliabilities of strip and conventional patch testing.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The standardized protocol for performing the strip patch test has proven to be valid, but evidence on its reliability is still missing.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the parallel-test reliability of the strip patch test as compared with the conventional patch test.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this multicentre, prospective, randomized, investigator-blinded reliability study, 132 subjects were enrolled. Simultaneous duplicate strip and conventional patch tests were performed with the Finn Chambers®on Scanpor®tape test system and the patch test preparations nickel sulfate 5% pet., potassium dichromate 0.5% pet., and lanolin alcohol 30% pet. Reliability was estimated by the use of Cohen's kappa coefficient.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Parallel-test reliability values of the three standard patch test preparations turned out to be acceptable, with slight advantages for the strip patch test. The differences in reliability were 9% (95%CI: -8% to 26%) for nickel sulfate and 23% (95%CI: -16% to 63%) for potassium dichromate, both favouring the strip patch test.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The standardized strip patch test method for the detection of allergic contact sensitization in patients with suspected allergic contact dermatitis is reliable. Its application in routine clinical practice can be recommended, especially if the conventional patch test result is presumably false negative.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Ruhr University Bochum, 44791, Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Heinrich
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6837-4402
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dickel
authors.affiliation: Information Network of Departments of Dermatology (IVDK), Georg August University Göttingen, 37075, Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Geier
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany.
authors.forename: Burkhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kreft
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Allergology, Philipps University Marburg, 35043, Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Pfützner
authors.affiliation: Institute for Biometrics and Epidemiology, German Diabetes Center (DDZ), 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kuss
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009532:Nickel / Q000009:adverse effects; D010328:Patch Tests / Q000379:methods*; D011192:Potassium Dichromate / Q000009:adverse effects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C029938:nickel sulfate; D009532:Nickel; D011192:Potassium Dichromate
keywords: accuracy; contact dermatitis; kappa coefficient; nickel sulfate; patch test; potassium dichromate; reliability of results; strip patch test