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. 2022 Aug;87(2):170-175.
doi: 10.1111/cod.14118. Epub 2022 Apr 15.

What is the optimal duration for a ROAT? The experience of the French Dermatology and Allergology group (DAG)

Emmanuelle Amsler  1 , Haudrey Assier  2 , Angèle Soria  1 , Corina Bara  3 , Marie Christine Ferrier le Bouëdec  4 , Annick Barbaud  5 , Brigitte Milpied  6 , Françoise Giordano-Labadie  7 , Justine Pasteur  4 , Antoine Badaoui  8 , Aude Valois  9 , Florence Castelain  10 , Flore Kurihara  1 , Julie Castagna  1 , Claire Boulard  11 , Claire Bernier  12 , Camille Leleu  13 , Pierre Marcant  14 , Marie Noelle Crépy  15   16 , Florence Tetart  17 , Nadia Raison-Peyron  18 ; from the Dermatology and Allergy Group of the French Society of Dermatology (DAG)
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What is the optimal duration for a ROAT? The experience of the French Dermatology and Allergology group (DAG)

Emmanuelle Amsler et al. Contact Dermatitis. 2022 Aug.

Abstract

Background and objectives: The repeated open application test (ROAT) is an adjuvant investigation measure to patch testing in the diagnosis of allergic contact dermatitis. ESCD recommends a 15 days duration but its overall duration varies according to publications and patients hardly adhere to prolonged ROAT duration beyond 1 week.

Materials and methods: The Dermatology and Allergy Group of the French Society of Dermatology performed a prospective study with the aim of determining the best duration for the ROAT.

Results: A total of 328 ROAT results were collected for topical products, including cosmetics (60%) and topical medications (31.1%). Fifty-nine (18%) ROATs were positive, and 16 (5%) were doubtful. All the positive ROATs occurred within 10 days, with a median time to positivity of 3 days.

Conclusion: According to our results, a minimum duration of 10 days is necessary to achieve a positive ROAT to a topical product.

Keywords: allergic contact dermatitis; repeated open application test; skin testing.

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References

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