Test, sweat chloride

Test, sweat chloride
A common and simple test used to evaluate a patient who is suspected of having cystic fibrosis (CF), the most common lethal genetic disease affecting Caucasians. The goal of the test is to painlessly stimulate the patientąs skin to produce a large enough amount of sweat which may then be absorbed by a special filter paper and analyzed for the content of chloride in the sweat. To produce a good volume of sweat requires application of a minute (painless) electric current which allows penetration of a medication which maximizes sweat stimulation. The technique is called iontophoresis. The patientąs forearm is commonly used; however, in small infants, the back may also serve as an appropriate area to perform this procedure. The test usually takes about a half hour to an hour. The sweat is collected on a specialized filter paper. After determining that enough sweat has been collected to ensure test reliability, the amount of chloride in the sweat is measured. The normal sweat chloride values are 10-35 milliequivalents per liter. Patients with CF usually have a sweat chloride value greater than 60 milliequivalents per liter. Intermediate values between 35 and 60 milliequivalents per liter may be seen in some CF patients (and in some normal children). In those cases, the sweat chloride test should be repeated in the very near future. In a severely malnourished patient with CF, the sweat chloride may be normal; however, once the malnutrition is corrected, the test will become positive. There are a few rare conditions which produce a false positive sweat chloride test. Such situations include diseases of adrenal, thyroid, or pituitary glands, rare lipid storage diseases, infection of the pancreas, etc. Generally, these children are easily differentiated from patients with CF by their clinical condition and molecular tests for CF can be done to clarify the situation.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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  • Test, sweat — A common and simple test used to evaluate a patient who is suspected of having cystic fibrosis (CF), the most common lethal genetic disease affecting Caucasians. Also called the sweat chloride test. The goal of the test is to painlessly stimulate …   Medical dictionary

  • Sweat chloride test — A simple test used to evaluate a patient who is suspected of having cystic fibrosis (CF). The goal of the test is to painlessly stimulate the patient’s skin to produce a large enough amount of sweat, which may then be absorbed by a special filter …   Medical dictionary

  • Test de la sueur — Mucoviscidose Mucoviscidose Autre nom Fibrose kystique du pancréas Référence MIM …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Sweat test — A simple test used to evaluate a patient who is suspected of having cystic fibrosis (CF). The goal of the test is to painlessly stimulate the patient’s skin to produce a large enough amount of sweat, which may then be absorbed by a special filter …   Medical dictionary

  • Sweat test — The sweat test measures the concentration of chloride and sodium that is excreted in sweat. It is used to diagnose cystic fibrosis (CF).BackgroundCystic fibrosis is caused by defects in a protein found in many tissues, including the airways and… …   Wikipedia

  • test — 1. To prove; to try a substance; to determine the chemical nature of a substance by means of reagents. 2. A method of examination, as to determine the presence or absence of a definite disease or of some substance in any of the fluids, tissues,… …   Medical dictionary

  • sweat test — noun Date: 1978 a test for cystic fibrosis that involves measuring the subject s sweat for abnormally high sodium chloride content …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • sweat test — noun : a test for cystic fibrosis that involves measuring the subject s sweat for abnormally high sodium chloride content …   Useful english dictionary

  • Fibrose cystique — Mucoviscidose Mucoviscidose Autre nom Fibrose kystique du pancréas Référence MIM …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Fibrose kystique — Mucoviscidose Mucoviscidose Autre nom Fibrose kystique du pancréas Référence MIM …   Wikipédia en Français

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