Contact and Photocontact Allergens: A Manual of Predictive Test Methods

With thousands of new chemicals and combinations of chemicals being produced each year, it has been clear for many years that there needs to be methods of determining the skin sensitization potential of such compounds for human skin. This book reviews such predictive skin sensitization tests (beginning from the Draize test in 1959) performed in the guinea pig, the animal of choice for such studies. It is written by an experienced investigator who shares with the reader his years of experience.

Clearly written chapters discuss the immunology of contact and photocontact allergy, the epidemiology of allergic contact dermatitis, and many predictive test methods in animals. Each chapter is written with care and is filled with much practical information. The most common predictive tests are discussed with simplified diagrams describing how and when the materials are applied during the induction and challenge phases of testing. Each description is followed by a