AllerDerm Caribbean Ltd
Information for Medical Professionals
to obtain
Chemotechnique Patch Test products
for use in hospital clinics or private practice clinics
in the Caribbean region
THE CARIBBEAN PATCH TEST SPECIALISTS
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This Information Page is intended solely for Medical Professionals based in the Caribbean, intending to purchase Chemotechnique products from AllerDerm Caribbean Ltd.
LOGISTICS
Local Stock
Chemotechnique products are not held in local stock by AllerDerm Caribbean Ltd, for several good reasons:
1. Remaining Shelf Life
2. Re-exportation to another Caribbean country
3. Every purchaser wants something different, whether it be the British Standard Series or the European Baseline Series or the ACDS Core Series, or Cosmetic Series, or Photo-Patch Series, etc.
4. Chemotechnique are geared up to supply product as quickly as possible, usually within 2-3-4 weeks of the first enquiry to the distributor.
Therefore, by not holding local stock, AllerDerm Caribbean Ltd can provide you with the latest production batches of the many products, with the longest possible remaining shelf life, and provide you with exactly what you want.
Catch-Up Haptens
On occasion, one or two haptens in a series (considering that some popular series comprise as many as 80 to 90 haptens) may not be immediately available from Chemotechnique.
If this occurs it is most usually due to a lack of raw material from the supplier of that raw material to Chemotechnique. It can be a complex and time-consuming process to obtain a raw material from an alternative / different supplier, as there are chemical analyses that would need to be performed to assure the quality and purity of the substance from the new supplier.
If a hapten is not immediately available to fulfil a purchaser’s order, then Chemotechnique will inform AllerDerm Caribbean Ltd of the out-of-stock situation and ADCL will then advise the client when the out-of-stock hapten(s) would next become available, which is usually within 1-3 weeks time.
ADCL will then present three options to the purchaser:
1. Delay the despatch of the entire order until the out-of-stock hapten(s) are available again, or
2. Cancel the order for the out-of-stock haptens, which will of course then be not included in the cost quotation, or
3. Take delivery of the bulk of the order and including not only the cost of the delivery of the big order but also the cost of delivery of the catch-up hapten(s). That latter cost will be approx USD 100-150.
Returns
Note that products supplied from Chemotechnique cannot be returned for credit. Such regulated medical products cannot be taken back into the stock of the manufacturer and so be made available for resale. One of the good reasons for this is that the temperature history of the products cannot be guaranteed during the transport to the Customs in the destination country, nor during the waiting time whilst awaiting Customs clearance, nor during any return transit back to the manufacturer.
Cold Chain Supply >>>...New...<<<
Note that all hapten products supplied from Chemotechnique based in Sweden to any of the Caribbean countries will be sent with Chemotechnique's own "Cold Packaging". This is because Caribbean countries lie within the ICH Climatic Zone IV. As part of Chemotechnique's continuous commitment to compliance with Good Distribution Practice (GDP) and product quality assurance, they have updated their internal procedure regarding the transport of haptens. Effective immediately, (from 28th October 2025), their use of cold packaging ("cold chain transport") is mandatory.... for destination countries within ICH Climatic Zone IV.
Practically, the Chemotechnique Cold Packaging is a purpose designed cardboard box with thermal insulating properties, that contains a gel-based freeze block, that is intended to maintain the temperature internally within the package of 2-8 degrees C for a minimum period fo 5-7 days. That period should be adequate for the international delivery from Sweden to the Caribbean destination. This dedicated Cold Packaging has an inherent cost which will be stated in the Price Quotation and the Pro Forma Invoice and the Final Invoice provided by AllerDerm Caribbean to the prospective purchaser client. This cost is currently stated to be US$55, which is less then the cost of just 2 haptens. If you have any questions about this new feature, then please contact us here.
ORDER & DELIVERY PROCESS
The Order Process
We promise you prompt, efficient, transparent, honest and personal communication, whether by:
Email: allerderm.caribbean@gmail.com
WhatsApp: +44 7960 315127
Call: +44 7960 315127
The entire process from initial enquiry to receipt of the product should take a maximum of one month.
The usual sequence of events is as follows:
1. The Dermatologist or Allergist will contact AllerDerm Caribbean by email to allerderm.caribbean@gmail.com to ask about the availability of patch test haptens and/or patch test chamber strips, for their hospital clinic or private practice in the Caribbean region.
Alternatively, a referral will come from the Chemotechnique website at www.chemotechnique.se or from a Google Search on “patch test manufacturers” or “patch test suppliers Caribbean”.
2. AllerDerm Caribbean Ltd (ADCL) will then respond by email to the potential Client with:
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A personalised email reply
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A current Chemotechnique 2025 Product Catalogue & Reference Guide of 204 pages. This is also available here. This is also available on special request as a printed booklet to be posted from Europe.
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An ADCL 2025 Retail Price List, denominated in USD.
This is also available to download here. -
A supplementary document “Notes & Recommendations” that comprises several pages of very useful information on patch testing, products, clinical applications, technical information, delivery process, responsibilities, etc. This document is also available to download here.
3. The Client Dermatologist/Allergist will doubtless have questions about Hapten Series, Chamber Strips, product availability, delivery lead time, payment process, etc, which will be answered promptly and efficiently and reliably by ADCL.
4. The Client will ask for a quotation on the exact cost, including delivery.
5. ADCL will contact Chemotechnique Sweden to request a quotation of the delivery cost from Sweden by courier (such as UPS, or FedEx, DHL, etc.). Client is to provide an exact delivery address.
6. ADCL will convert the prices quoted in SEK by Chemotechnique to USD to be stated in a formal AADCL letter-headed quotation. ADCL will return to the Client with the full quotation (in USD), including delivery costs.
7. The Client is to formally accept the quotation.
8. ADCL will then provide the Client with a letter-headed Pro Forma Invoice, to enable the Client to make the payment to a mainstream British High Street bank account for ADCL.
This payment will ideally be in GBP but can be in USD or EUR.
Payment should be by standard inter-bank transfer.
9. Client makes the payment. This usually takes 2-3 working days to arrive.
10. ADCL acknowledges receipt of the payment.
11. ADCL pays Chemotechnique Sweden.
12. Chemotechnique Sweden then schedule the picking & packing of the items of the order. They inform ADCL of the scheduled date of despatch. This is usually within 3-5 days but a maximum of 2-3 weeks after receipt of the payment. ADCL informs the purchaser.
13. Chemotechnique provide ADCL with a tracking number, which is then forwarded to the purchaser.
ADCL will monitor the tracking of the delivery, and will inform the purchaser of developments. The purchaser is advised to also monitor the online tracking service to be automatically notified of any developments.
14. Within usually 3-5 days, the consignment is received in the country of the Client.
At this point the Client (Purchaser) takes over responsibility for the transition of the package through Customs and into their own hands.
It is strongly recommended that the purchaser (or their appointed Customs Agent) is actively involved in contacting the local branch of the Courier company used (UPS or FedEx or DHL, etc) who in turn will coordinate wit the local Customs authority to secure the earliest possible release of the package. The products are packaged in temperature-stabilised materials, but after a week or so their temperature-buffering capabilities will have been exhausted. The products will then become at ambient temperature. If this is above 25 degrees C then there will be temperature stress of at least some of the haptens. Please therefore act to make any retention by Customs as brief a period as possible.
ADCL maintains close contact with the purchaser until the purchaser informs that the delivery has been received, is complete and in good condition.
"Thankyou for your business, and if there is any way we can be of assistance, including with practical or clinical matters, then please get in touch and we will do our utmost to assist you.
COMMERCIAL REGULATORY
Commercial Regulations
Once a product is registered in a country, then importation of the product can take place unhindered, for any number of events, and recipients, over a long period of time.
In the individual countries of the Caribbean Region such product registration is not necessary. However an Import Permit may be required; or (more likely) it may not be required.
Some Caribbean countries are more proscriptive than others,
and some are stricter in applying their regulations than others.
Where we have previous experience or knowledge or information, we will advise the purchaser accordingly.
An Import Permit is a de facto approval by the local national medicines regulatory authority for each individual importation.
The application to the Customs Authority of the individual country can be made by a Customs (Importing) Agent, using information provided by AllerDerm Caribbean Ltd and/or by Chemotechnique.
The Dermatologist/Allergist will need to find and appoint a competent and experienced Customs Agent for their importation of the Chemotechnique products. There may be Customs Agents who specialise in medical products.
It should be possible for a Dermatologist to discuss with the local office of the UPS courier company (used by Chemotechnique to deliver to the Caribbean countries) to ascertain if they can arrange for the Import Permit, or perhaps ascertain that importation can be done without an Import Permit being necessary.
Note that if the Dermatologist or clinic has their own contracted courier company (such as UPS or FedEx or DHL) then it would be better that Chemotechnique use that courier company for the delivery; so let us know if you have such a contracted courier company.
Customs Tariff Codes
The relevant Customs Tariff Codes for the Chemotechnique products are:
Haptens: 30063000
IQ Chambers: 30051000
Plastic Accessories: 39239090
Nickel Spot Test: 38220000
Cobalt Spot Test: 38220000
Information on the Unified Customs Tariff Codes can be found at
https://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/business/calculation-customs-duties/what-is-common-customs-tariff/taric_en
This information is useful for any Customs Broker in any country so that they can determine any possible duties & taxes & fees to be levied.
The assessment by the local national Customs authority should always be positive (i.e. importation will be approved) and will then result in the permission to import that product once it arrives. It is usually just a question of time.
It is very important that the Import Permit application and approval is achieved prior to the arrival of the delivery, not when the package has arrived and been held by the Courier company on the instruction of the Customs just because there is no Import Permit for that package. This is important because any delays when the delivery is held up by Customs beyond a day or two whilst waiting for an application and an approval of an Import Permit will lead to a temperature stress of the Haptens. Most usually, the package will not be able to be held refrigerated, and the resultant temperature stress is definitely to be avoided in the heat of the Tropics.
ADCL emphasise that the Client is responsible for the acquisition of any relevant Import Permit. ADCL will assist as much as we possibly can, from afar.
The Client is therefore responsible for Customs clearance, and for any local costs that may be incurred in the importation.
These additional costs may be one or more of the following:
- Customs Agent Fees
- Possible Customs charges - should be zero for medical products
- Possible local Sales Taxes (e.g. GST, VAT, etc.).
- Possible local onward delivery costs, though this should be part of the delivery process for the international courier, though they may engage a local partner service for the local delivery.
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If there are any questions about commercial matters or medico-legal matters, then please contact ADCL.
We will do our very best to help you.
AllerDerm Caribbean Ltd is 100% focussed and dedicated.... to the supply of the patch test products of Chemotechnique to Dermatologists and Allergists throughout the Caribbean region.
With our exceptional experience and expertise:
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With the clinical application of patch tests
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With Patch Test products from various manufacturers
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Decades of working with Chemotechnique in different countries around the world
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Extensive knowledge of international sales and marketing
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Knowledge of the Caribbean countries and markets
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Clinical practice within Dermatology and Allergy
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Decades of experience of working with Dermatologists and Allergists around the world
We firmly believe that:
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We can provide the very best service and support…..
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For the very best patch test products….
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For you to use in your clinical practice.
FINANCIALS
Prices
The Chemotechnique Recommended Retail Prices are very competitive, globally.
The Chemotechnique quality is, however, simply outstanding.
Retail prices are determined and set annually on the 1st of February by Chemotechnique Sweden, in SEK, in order to have a more-or-less uniform price for the products around the world. Therefore the prices should be the same to a Dermatologist or Allergist in USA as it is for Australia or Jamaica or Trinidad & Tobago, etc. However, due to different transportation costs and possible local Customs charges, then there are some differences from country to country. Within the Caribbean region, ADCL adheres in principle and in practice to the Chemotechnique Recommended Retail Prices.
When the Chemotechnique Recommended Retail Price List is stated by Chemotechnique in Swedish Kronor (SEK) effective 1st February each year, ADCL then that is converted by AllerDerm Caribbean Ltd to USD at the forex rate of 1st February that year. This was on 1st February 2025 a forex rate of 10.43 SEK to the USD. This then becomes the ADCL Retail Price List quoted in USD for the year of 2025 up to and including January 2026.
When a prospective clients wishes to purchase any Chemotechnique products from AllerDerm Caribbean Ltd, then a formal price quote will be sought by ADCL from Chemotechnique, including the carriage cost, all in SEK. This is then converted by ADCL to USD at the time of the formal quotation. That orex rate can differ, more or less, in either direction, from the forex rate stated on 1st February 2025. This fresh forex rate is the one used by ADCL to make a formal quotation to the client; it may therefore be slightly higher or lower in USD terms than the Retail Price List of 1st February 2025.
An abbreviated USD Price List covering the most commonly used and purchased Series is available for download here. This is based on the forex rate of 1st February 2024, so the formal quotation provided on enquiry may differ slightly, in either direction, if the SEK:USD forex rate has changed since 1st February 2025.
Once you have decided which Series you wish to purchase, and how many boxes of Chambers, then just ask us (ADCL) for a formal Quotation.
For information on prices for any Series or for individual haptens, or chambers or any of the accessory products, please contact AllerDerm Caribbean directly - best by email from your professional email address.
The usual procedure by Chemotechnique for setting the new annual prices valid from 1st February each year has been to calculate with the Swedish annual rate of inflation, which is usually 2-3%. However, for January 2025 the rate was just 1%.
Unfortunately though, they have experienced significant price increases from their suppliers of the raw materials such as the fine chemicals which are obtained on the international market. Accordingly, Chemotechnique has increased their prices by an average of 5.0% from 2024 to 2025 for haptens and 4.0% for Chambers..
However, due to the appreciation of the USD against the SEK in the past several years, there has been a de facto 1.9% price decrease in USD terms from 2024 to 2025.
Note that the order & delivery process then takes approx. 3-5 days from despatch from Chemotechnique Sweden until the package has arrived in the destination country, but that is a normal working week, so any major holiday break in normal business operations will delay the delivery process accordingly.
Note that AllerDerm-Caribbean Ltd does not close over holiday periods, though our response time to emails may be a day or so longer during holiday periods than the usual immediate response.
Contact us if you have any questions.
Payment
Payment can be made to AllerDerm Caribbean Ltd in USD or, if the Client prefers, alternatively in EUR or GBP, at the rates and prices stated in the formal Quotation. Note though that we recommend the sending of the funds in GBP, to the receiving bank, that is located in GB. In this way you can control the exchange rate used rather than leaving that to the receiving bank to determine.
Note that any bank charges are for the purchaser to pay, so please ensure that the sum received is the same as the sum sent. Sending payment in GBP should avoid such extra bank charges.
Payment is most usually by inter-bank transfer, to a business bank account at a High Street, GB mainstream bank.
Contact us for more information.
MEDICAL REGULATORY
Medico-Legal Regulations
Patch Test Haptens such as are manufactured by Chemotechnique are classified as Diagnostic Tests by medical regulatory authorities. In some countries (such as USA, and in the EU), these are highly regulated, and more so with every year that passes and new tougher regulations are imposed, though not (yet?) quite as highly regulated as for biological vaccines and chemical-based pharmaceutical products.
The Patch Test Chamber Strips (also known as Units) are classified as Medical Devices, of a low order.
Chemotechnique as a manufacturer is qualified with all the necessary regulatory systems that are mandatory in Sweden and in the EU.
Chemotechnique products, the Haptens and Chambers, are of course registered (approved) by the local national medical regulatory authorities where this is necessary, such as EU, or UK, or USA, etc.
If there are any medico-legal regulations or restrictions or limitations on the use of such Patch Test products in the particular country, then the Client is responsible for their own compliance with relevant medico-legal restrictions and requirements of their local country. Most usually, clinical usage of such Patch Test products by any medical Specialist is not restricted.