• Sweat testing infants detected by cystic fibrosis newborn screening

      Parad, Richard B.; Comeau, Anne Marie; Dorkin, Henry L.; Dovey, Mark; Gerstle, Robert; Martin, Thomas; O'Sullivan, Brian P. (2005-09-06)
      OBJECTIVE: Describe and define limitations of early pilocarpine iontophoresis (sweat testing) for cystic fibrosis (CF) newborn screening (NBS). STUDY DESIGN: Population-based results from follow-up of CF NBS-positive newborns. RESULTS: Insufficient quantity of sweat is more likely if the sweat test is done too early, but testing is generally successful after 2 weeks of age. Sweat chloride levels drop over the first weeks of life. CF carriers have higher sweat chloride concentrations than non-carriers. CONCLUSIONS: Sweat testing can be performed effectively after 2 weeks of age for CF NBS-positive newborns. Earlier testing has a higher risk of insufficient sweat for completing testing.