Generally we recommend that all patients are tested with the Australian Baseline Series (ABS), which has recently replaced our standard and supplementary series.  This series contains the most common causes of allergy seen in Australia, and contains a wide range of allergens including nickel, fragrances, preservatives, rubber ingredients, ingredients from medicaments and cosmetics, dyes, hair dyes and bleach.  Most importantly it tests for methylisothiazolinone (MI), the preservative which is causing an epidemic currently.  See our information sheet about MI for more details.

In addition, we recommend you add tests that are relevant to the patients’ rash or occupation.  We have almost 50 additional series that you can choose from (see chart below).

Australian Baseline series Epoxy resin series Photographic series
Cosmetic series Isocyanate series Plastic and glue series
Rubber series Formaldehyde series Prosthetic joint series
Antiseptic series Hairdressing series Prosthetic joint CONTROL series
Additional Cosmetic series Leg ulcer series Plant series
Bakery series Local anaesthetic series Plant extracts series
Bakery extra spices series Medicament series Compositae series
Cheilitis – common and rare series (please specify if you want one or both) Metals series Scandinavian photo patch test series
Corticosteroid series Methacrylate series (MAP) Printing Shoe series
Dental screening series Methacrylate series (MAAD) Adhesives, dental, other Sunscreen series- common  and rare series (please specify if you want one or both)
Dental patients Methacrylate series (MAN)Nails, artificial Tape- adhesive series
Dental staff Nurses series Textile colours and finisher series (please specify if you want common or rare or both)
Drug reaction series Oil and cooling fluid series Toothpaste series
Fragrance common and rare series (also series for ingredients of Frag mix 1 and 2) Ophthalmic series Various series
Jewellery Paint series
Other essential oils series Paraben series
Perfume extras series Pesticide series

Those people who are registered with Contact Allergen Bank Australia can also access our specific allergen series and our suggested patch testing guides for general contact dermatitis and also our occupational patch test guide.