II. Indication

  1. Cystic Fibrosis testing

III. Method

  1. Quantitative Pilocarpine Iontophoresis
    1. Stimulates local sweat production (parasympathetic)
    2. Collect sweat on gauze pads
    3. Analyze Sodium and chloride content
  2. Minimum sweat amount required: 50 mg (200 mg better)

IV. Normal

  1. Sweat contains <60 meq/Liter Chloride and Sodium

V. Abnormal Results

  1. CF Sweat contains > 70 meq/L Chloride and Sodium
  2. Error: >30 meq/L difference between chloride and Sodium

VI. Indications to repeat the test for confirmation

  1. Positive Test
  2. Suspected False Negative

VIII. Reference

  1. Bakerman (1984) ABC's of Lab Data, ILD, Greenville, NC

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