NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Patients with anallergy to metal, often first revealed when wearing certainjewelry, are also at risk for reactions to implanted medicaldevices made of metal, such as pacemakers and orthopedicprostheses.

Patch testing, which involves placing some of the suspectedallergen on the skin, can be helpful in detecting medical devicereactions. However, doctors need to wait longer than usual whenlooking to see if a skin reaction has occurred, researchers reportin the Archives of Dermatology.

Normally, researcher Dr. Mark D. P. Davis told Reuters Health,readings at days 3 and 5 “are adequate for detecting contactallergy to most of the common allergens.” In the case of metalallergy, however, the reaction may be delayed and doctors shouldlook again at days 7 to 10.

social poster