European multicenter study of the TRUE Test™

Abstract

A new, standardized, ready‐to‐apply patch test, the TRUE Test™, has been evaluated on 698 consecutive patients with suspected contact dermatitis. The patients were tested with 12 different allergens. Simultaneously, the same 12 allergens in pet. (Trolab®) were applied symmetrically to the opposite side of the upper back using the conventional Finn Chamber® technique. There were positive test reactions to all 12 allergens lusted in the patient group. The concordance of positive reactions between the TRUE Test™ and the Finn Chamber® test was 67%; 13% of all positive reactions were recorded only for the TRUE Test™ and 20% only for the Finn Chamber® method. The frequency of questionable and irritant reactions was of the same low order of magnitude for both tests methods; such reactions were recorded an around 2% of all test patches. Copyright © 1988, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved