Patch-test results of chemotechnique oil and cooling fluid series in patients with suspected occupational contact dermatitis in Israel

Background: There appear to be no published studies on the rates of positive allergic reactions to oil and cooling fluids. Objective: To determine the yield of the oil and cooling fluid series from Chemotechnique Diagnostics in patients in Israel who are suspected to have occupational allergic contact dermatitis. Methods: The authors reviewed the findings in 175 patients with suspected occupational contact dermatitis who worked with oil and cooling fluids and were patch-tested at two dermatologic clinics in Israel from 1999 to 2003. Results: Forty-four patients (all male; mean age, 40.8 years) had 67 positive reactions to 27 of the 35 allergens (86.7% relevant). An occupational cause was established in 39 patients (88.6%). Thirty-seven of the patients with a positive reaction were also tested with the European Standard series. Of these, 22 (59%) had positive reactions to several allergens in the standard series as well. Conclusion: To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study of the oil and cooling fluid patch-test series in this setting. The findings indicate that this series serves as an appropriate test for evaluating occupational contact dermatitis and that its composition should not be changed, pending further studies.