Allergic contact dermatitis from para-tertiary-butylphenol-formaldehyde resin (PTBP-F-R) in Northern Ireland.

Over the past 5 years, 2270 patients with suspected allergic contact dermatitis were patch tested in our clinic to the European standard series of allergens. 7 patients (0.3%) showed a positive reaction (> or = +) to PTBP-F-R. In 3 (42.9%) of these patients, the allergen was traced to adhesives but no allergen source was determined in the remainder (57.1%). On the basis of these findings, it is questionable whether PTBP-F-R alone should routinely be included in the European standard series.