Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 31, 2026

Basophil Activation Test for Allergy Diagnosis
Published on: May 31, 2021
Diagnosing lanolin contact allergy with lanolin alcohol and Amerchol L101
Jannet Knijp1, Derk P Bruynzeel1, Thomas Rustemeyer1
1Department of Dermatology, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Background:
The prevalence of lanolin contact allergy in dermatitis patients varies from 1.2% to 6.9%. Different lanolin derivatives are used in patch testing.
Objectives:
To determine which combination of lanolin derivatives is most effective in patch testing for the diagnosis of lanolin contact allergy.
Methods:
A retrospective analysis of patients patch tested between 2016 and 2017 was performed. Patients were eligible if they had been tested with lanolin alcohol 30% pet., Amerchol L101 50% pet., and a supplementary series containing other lanolin derivatives. Lanolin alcohol and Amerchol L101 were tested in duplicate.
Results:
Of 594 patients, 28.6% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 25.1%-32.3%) had a positive patch test reaction to at least one lanolin derivative. Reactions to lanolin alcohol (14.7%, 95%CI: 11.3%-18.2%) and Amerchol L101 (15.0%, 95%CI: 11.5%-18.5%) were common in the routinely tested series. Reactions to other test preparations were significantly less frequent (P < 0.05). The addition of Amerchol L101 to lanolin alcohol significantly increased the number of positive cases (odds ratio 1.79, P < 0.001).
Conclusions:
The combination of lanolin alcohol and Amerchol L101 is effective in patch testing for the diagnosis of lanolin contact allergy. Routinely testing with other lanolin derivatives may not be worthwhile, as it detects only a few additional patients.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Diagnosing Acidosis and Alkalosis
First, the pH level is assessed to determine whether the blood pH is normal (7.35–7.45), low (acidosis), or high (alkalosis).
Next, the PCO2 and...
Contact Angle
The adhesive force is the molecular force between molecules of different materials, that is, between the molecules of the solid and the liquid. The cohesive...
Contact-dependent Signaling
Gap Junctions
In animal cells, gap junctions are formed...
Oxidation of Alcohols
The process of oxidation in a chemical reaction is observed in any of the three forms:
Ethers from Alcohols: Alcohol Dehydration and Williamson Ether Synthesis
Ethers can be prepared from organic compounds by various methods. Some of them are discussed below,
Preparation of Ethers by Alcohol Dehydration
In this method, in the presence of protic acids, alcohol dehydrates to produce alkenes and ethers under different conditions. For example, in the presence of sulphuric acid, dehydration of ethanol at 413 K yields ethoxyethane, whereas it yields ethene at 443 K.
Protection of Alcohols
Protection
It defines a protecting group as the masking agent to make the more reactive species inert to a given set of conditions. This concept is depicted via the illustration of liquid flow through different outlets in an assembly of pipes. The analogy helps to understand the role...

