patch test

noun

1. Medicine/Medical. a test for suspected allergy by application to the skin of a patch impregnated with an allergen: allergic reaction is indicated by redness at the site of application.

patch test

noun

1. med a test to detect an allergic reaction by applying small amounts of a suspected substance to the skin and then examining the area for signs of irritation

Word History and Origins

Origin of patch test¹

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

Gemma had coronavirus and recovered but when she went for a patch test with the same hair dye she'd been using for years she suffered a reaction.

From BBC

Gemma suffered a reaction to a patch test despite using the same hair dye for years.

From BBC

If you have sensitive skin, patch test ingredients by applying a small amount to your forearm.

From New York Times

If he had done a patch test with a few tiles and let me see the dried version first, we wouldn’t have wasted days scraping out the first color and re-grouting the entire floor.

From New York Times

If you do have a reaction, you may find it worth the cost to get a quick patch test for PPD sensitivity at your doctor’s office.

From Washington Post