The Standard Series of Patch Tests

The use of a standard series in all tested patients was adopted worldwide in the 1980s. Formerly, many authors refused to adhere to its systematic use and championed the concept of “selected patch tests.” Werner Jadassohn (at Geneva) had a strong influence on many colleagues in this respect. The principle of “choice” or “selection” was based on a careful recording of anamnestic data, especially in the field of occupational dermatology [1]. A similar view was shared in France by Foussereau [2]. Their opinion was that “testing systematically” with a standard series led unavoidably to a lazy clinical attitude. They argued that by doing so, clinicians were tempted to neglect the medical history of each individual patient.

Conversely, the standard series found enthusiastic defenders among renowned pioneers in the field of allergic contact dermatitis.

Bruno Bloch acted as a group leader for promoting and disseminating the idea of applying a limited standard series on each patient [3]. This was made in close connection with Jozef Jadassohn in Breslau (Bloch’s former teacher when he was in Bern), Blumenthal and Jaffé in Berlin, and later Sulzberger in New York.