Comprehensive Patch Testing: An Essential Tool for Care of Allergic Contact Dermatitis.

Patch testing (PT) is the gold standard diagnostic test for allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) and is essential for guiding allergen avoidance. Comprehensive PT refers to the completion of PT for all potentially relevant and testable allergens for a given patient. It is necessary for most patients with contact allergy and can illustrate allergen trends and identify allergens that otherwise would be missed using a limited screening panel. Early identification of relevant allergens leads to clinical improvement, improved quality-of-life, and reduced health care utilization. This article illustrates the clinical and public health value of comprehensive PT and the vital role of allergen access in the comprehensive patch test process.