Minimum eliciting patch test concentration of thimerosal*

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Abstract
Positive patch test reactions to thimerosal 0.1% pet (40/ 690 subjects: 5.8%) were more common in younger age groups, in the allergic contact dermatitis group and in subjects who had used contact lens solutions. In the 40 thimerosal-positive patients, the minimum eliciting quantity of preservative was evaluated using different test concentrations: 0.05% and 0.01% pet (patch testing) and 1:10,000 in saline (intradermal testing). Cross-reactions between thimerosal and other mercury Compounds and sensitivity to thiosalicylic acid were also examined. The results of the investigation demonstrate that many of the reaction to 0.1% thimerosal are probably irritant, because only half the subjects studied had positive patch test when allergen concentrations 5 to 10 × lower than that conventionally used for patch testing, were utilized. In these subjects, the average strength of patch test reactions was higher, intradermal testing was more often positive and cross-reactions between mercurials more frequent. These data indicate that the optimal eliciting patch test concentration for studing thimerosal sensitivity is 0.05% pet.