TempTest^®

Physical urticaria as the CCU are characterized by wheal reactions paired with itch and burn and/or angioedema following exposure to a specific, exogenous, physical stimulus, in this case cold. It is classified as a pseudo-allergic reaction and quite widely-spread (especially but not exclusively in colder climate countries – in Germany approx. 400.000 patients). The disease can occur for everyone in each state of the life. Women seem to be more concerned than men. Patients claim a dramatic decrease in life quality because of the symptoms. There is no general threshold temperature for the patients. It differs individually. For one person even sitting on the toilet at room temperature will trigger the symptoms, for the next person problems may only occur when working with food from the fridge in the kitchen and another one may only suffer when building a snowman. Of course, the higher the threshold temperature for the symptoms the more difficult the disease is for the patient.

Trigger examples from every-day life:

• Cold drinks or ice cream
• Getting in contact with a cold surface (e.g. putting the arms on a metal table)
• Swimming
• The evaporative cold after sweating
• Being unprotected outdoors in cold temperature

and many more ...

Whereas most encounters lead to extremely uncomfortable but not life-threatening symptoms, in individual cases the consequences are much more severe (examples):

• Eating something cold (e.g. ice cube) may cause pharyngeal swelling leading up to asphyxiation.
• A jump into cold water may cause an anaphylactic shock leading to unconsciousness or drowning.
• Infusions not warmed to body temperature may lead to extreme histamine distribution. An anesthesiologist has to be informed about a CCU prior to the anesthesia.

The device has been developed by Germany's first medical university, the Charité in Berlin (Prof. Marcus Maurer). With TempTest^® the described urticaria can be determined and in contrary to the commonly used "ice cube test" also the exact, variable temperature triggering the symptoms for this person can be stated.

The TempTest^® produces temperatures of 4°- 44° C, which are applied to the skin. The patient places the inner forearm on an aluminum stencil on the device for 5 minutes. The stencil produces the temperature range continuously. With this procedure it is determined at which threshold temperature (highest temperature for cold- and lowest temperature for heat urticaria) wheals are triggered.

After 10 more minutes, the wheals on the skin are compared to the foil stencil and the threshold temperature is determined conveniently. The wheals can be marked on the foil and it can be saved in the patient file for medical documentation of the therapy. The aim of each therapy is to lower the temperature threshold for CCU.

• Only by permanently checking the threshold temperature, the success of a therapy becomes measurable.
• Once the patient knows the individual threshold temperature for the CCU, symptoms can be avoided as far as possible: e.g. by avoiding special food, drinks or specific sports, by wearing protective clothes whenever it is below the threshold temperature, by using skin protection products and many more precautions.
• Other doctors can be informed of the critical temperature before any possible treatment to minimize risks.

Become an urticaria specialist:

• The determination of the critical threshold for the symptoms is stated in the EAACI/GA²LEN/EDF/WAO guideline. Being the only device to detect the threshold temperature, the TempTest^® is mandatory.
• Each urticaria consultation to become part of the worldwide acknowledged UCARE (Urticaria Center of Excellence and Reference) has to undergo an audit which also makes the use of TempTest^® a basis for the assessment. Find worldwide existing UCARE Reference Centres here: www.ga2len-ucare.com.

Further Advantages:

• The TempTest^® is extremely easy and quick to handle.
• The comfortable measurement at the inner forearm helps the patient to understand the diagnosis and the treatment success.
• It is a class IIa medical product.
• A team of international specialists constantly produces new publications and presentations stating the benefits and usefulness of the device.
• The device can be used on adult and paediatric patients.
• Unwanted side effects are very uncommon. If the test is positive and wheals form, they may last some minutes up to hours, including in some cases itching and/or burning. However, they regress after several hours without lasting consequences.

Dimensions: approx. 35.5 x 14 x 9.5 cm (L x W x H), Weight: approx. 1.7 kg, Power supply: 100-240 V, 50/60 Hz, Power consumption: 1.5 -0.5 A, Fuse: T10AH250V, 5 x 20 mm, Protecting class IP21, Protection rating 1, class IIa medical product, Accuracy: +/- 2° C

Technical changes may be made without prior notice.