Educational

Patch test is the golden standard in the diagnostic of contact allergy.The method is a controlled provocation test with a biological response of the patient investigated.This implies that the biological response and its interpretation depends on dozens of chemical and biological factors but also on the experience and knowledge of the investigator.Furthermore, the selection and availability of material tested, its purity, storage conditions, dosage and application are crucial factors as well when aiming to standardise patch test procedures.Without standardised steps in this procedure the patch testing does not meet the needs of a modern diagnostic method.The introductory lecture gives an overview of these aspects.