Reproducibility of the Finn chamber® nickel patch test in two different phases of the ovulatory menstrual cycle

Background: Studies on nickel patch test reactivity and reproducibility of positive tests at different points of the menstrual cycle are heterogeneous. Objective: To investigate if non-reproducibilities of positive nickel sulphate patch tests in the two different phases of ovulatory menstrual cycles with the endocrine evidence of luteal phase adequacy are statistically different. Methods: 15 women (group 1) with positive Finn chamber (R) nickel patch test results in the follicular phase of the ovulatory cycle and 13 women (group 2) with positive Finn chamber nickel patch test results in the luteal phase of the ovulatory cycle were tested again in the counter-phases of their ovulatory cycle, with a scheduled interval of 6 weeks following the first tests. Reproducibilities of the tests in the two groups were evaluated statistically. Results: 3 of the positive test results in group 1 (20%) and 2 of the positive test results in group 2 (15.4%) were nonreproducible. The difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion: The reproducibility of positive Finn chamber nickel patch tests does not seem to be affected by the changes in the follicular and luteal phases of the ovulatory cycle.