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Cystic Fibrosis Sweat Test



 Submitted by Medical Health Test Team on June 30, 2010
Cystic Fibrosis Sweat Testing

Cystic fibrosis is a hereditary disease that is caused by a mutation in a particular gene that is responsible for controlling sweat and mucus. Fortunately, if either of the pairs of the gene is correct, the individual will not have any symptoms of cystic fibrosis. If both pairs of the gene are damaged or mutated, then the individual will suffer from cystic fibrosis. Cystic fibrosis is progressive and gradually leads to problems with breathing, chronic lung infection, disability and death. There is no known cure for cystic fibrosis. Diagnosis is usually a part of pre-natal examination and individuals diagnosed with the condition have a very limited life span.

The cystic fibrosis sweat test is a medical testing procedure that is conducted on young children to diagnose the condition of cystic fibrosis. Cystic fibrosis is caused by a defect in the gene that is responsible for the production of sweat, that is, the chemical composition of sweat. Therefore, by using the cystic fibrosis sweat test, the sweat can be analyzed for any abnormality. A person who is suffering from cystic fibrosis will have abnormal mucus production. This mucus is thicker and stickier than normal mucus and tends to clog the lungs and other organs. Normally, mucus develops as a result of an infection. It then captures the infection and flows away from the infected area, thus removing some of the infection. In the case of a patient suffering from cystic fibrosis, the infection gets trapped by the mucus but it does not leave the site of the original infection. This causes the infection to become many times more serious than it originally was. It also makes most infections difficult to treat. Patients with cystic fibrosis often undergo lung transplant operations if they have suffered from a lung infection that is severe enough to have damaged their lungs.

The cystic fibrosis sweat test uses a sample of sweat from an individual who is suspected to be affected by the condition. The cystic fibrosis sweat test is used to look for increased salt levels in the blood. The rise in salt levels is a symptom of cystic fibrosis. The patient is usually made to sweat, usually through electrode stimulation. The sweat is collected on an absorbent sheet which may be kept in place for up to an hour. The collected sweat is then analyzed for the percentage of sodium chloride (salt) within it and a subsequent diagnosis is made.

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