Minor test
The minor test (synonym: iodine starch test ), named after the person who first described it, Minor ( 1928 ), is one of the qualitative test methods for the detection of hyperhidrosis by color-coding parts of the body that are affected by excessive sweating.
First the sweaty skin area is carefully dried and then brushed with an iodine-potassium iodide solution (so-called Lugol's solution). After drying, this is thinly dusted with a special starch powder. The mixture is colored blue-black by the incorporation of polyiodide chains in the helical conformation of the amylose at the points where the increased sweat production takes place. The test is particularly suitable for patients with increased armpit sweat, but also for increased sweat production on the hands.
The test is purely qualitative and only identifies the actively secreting areas. Gravimetry can be used for quantitative assessment . The amount of sweat that is absorbed by a filter paper during a defined time unit is weighed with an ultra-fine balance. There are no defined limit values as the method is mostly only used in the context of studies.
literature
- Monika Sonntag, Thomas Ruzicka: Hyperhidrosis - causes and current treatment options. In: psychoneuro. 31, 2005, p. 315, doi : 10.1055 / s-2005-871978 .
- Definition and therapy of primary hyperhidrosis ; Guidelines of the German Dermatological Society (DDG); 02/2007; ES1
