Compound allergy to a skin marker for patch testing: a chromatographic analysis

Abstract
We present details of a patient who was demonstrated to have allergy to a solution used to mark sites of application of patch tests, during investigation of allergy to gold and nickel. Negative results were obtained when patch testing was performed using the individual constituents of the marker solution (gentian violet, dihydroxyacetone and acetone). Chromatographic analysis of various combinations of these chemicals did not identify a chemical derivative which might have caused this reaction.