Late delayed positive readings for patch testing common with metal allergens especially gold

Patch tests are read between days 5 and 7, because most hypersensitivity reactions occur within 7 days. Later reactions can occur after day 8, which may be missed.

Two hundred seventy-four patients developed 439 LDPs to 89 allergens. Fourteen allergens had LDPs in at least 2% of patients: gold (gold sodium thiosulfate—3 concentrations, gold chloride, potassium dicyanoaurate), cobalt (cobalt sulfate, cobalt chloride hexahydrate), beryllium, palladium, acrylates (2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate), dodecyl gallate, and gentamycin. Late delayed positive reactions to gold allergens were the most frequent reactions. Up to 90% of relevant gold allergen LDPs were positive by day 15.

Positive patch test readings after day 8 are uncommon, but allergens most likely to be positive are metals (gold, cobalt, palladium, beryllium), acrylates, dodecyl gallate, and gentamycin. Gold allergens showed the highest LDP rates and relevance, with most reactions occurring by day 15.

Reference:

Viggiano, Taylor BA∗; Yiannias, James A. MD†; Yang, Yul W. MD, PhD†. A Retrospective Review of Late Delayed Positive Patch Testing Greater Than Day 8 at Mayo Clinic From 2001 to 2020. Dermatitis 33(6):p 411-416, 11/12 2022. | DOI: 10.1097/DER.0000000000000951

Keywords:

Late, delayed, positive, reading, patch, testing, common, metal allergens, especially, gold, Dermatitis, Viggiano, Taylor, Yiannias, James A, Yang, Yul W.