Sweat collected using the Wescor Macroduct system (located in Bramble ward, a minimum of 20 ul required).
Please note- A minimum sweat secretion rate of 1 g/m2/min averaged over the collection period is considered adequate. Please record sweat collection time on the request form.
Best practice recommendations can be found here: sweat-guideline-v2-1.
mmol/L
Cystic fibrosis is the most common lethal genetic disorder, occurring with a birth rate of 1 in 2000. It is less common in African American and Asians. Cystic fibrosis is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait and has a carrier rate of 1 in 20. The CF gene is located on chromosome 7 and codes for a protein called cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) that functions as a cAMP dependent chloride channel. Nearly 550 mutations of this gene have been described. Reference laboratories can test for up to 32 of the CFTR mutations, which account for about 90% of cases. Because of the large number of CFTR mutations, confirmation of diagnosis by genetic testing is limited. The sweat test remains the mainstay of diagnosis. The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation consensus statement includes an elevated sweat chloride concentration in its diagnostic criteria.
Turn around Time: Daily
The sweat test involves iontopheresis of pilocarpine, a cholinergic drug, into the skin to induce sweating in a localized area. Stimulation is preferably done on the volar surface of the forearm. Sweat is collected into a Macroduct coil and the chloride concentration is measured. Results are interpreted as follows:
| Chloride | Interpretation |
| 0 – 40 mmol/L | Negative |
| 40 – 60 mmol/L | Borderline |
| >60 mmol/L | Consistent with CF |
Approximately 98% of patients with cystic fibrosis have a sweat chloride concentration greater than 60 mmol/L. The interpretation of the chloride concentration must be made with regard to the patient’s clinical presentation, family history and age. Sweat electrolyte concentration increases with age and healthy adults can have sweat chloride concentrations greater than 60 mmol/L. Elevated levels can also be caused by eczema, skin rash, malnutrition, dehydration and many other diseases listed below.
Metabolic Disorders
Endocrine Disorders
Immunologic Disorders
Genitourinary Tract Disorders
Neuropsychiatric Disorders
False negative results can occur if the patient is edematous, is receiving mineralocorticoid therapy or an inadequate volume of sweat is collected.
Patients with borderline and positive results should be retested. Duplicate tests should agree within 10 mmol/L for chloride concentrations less than 60 mmol/L and within 15 mmol/L for chloride concentrations greater than 60 mmol/l/.
Local test
1 day
Cannot be added on to an existing request
Specimen Labelling Procedure
8210
