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Health Issues: Cystic Fibrosis

Diagnosis

A blood test is available to help detect CF. The test looks for variations in a gene known to cause the disease. Other tests use to diagnose CF include:

  • Immunoreactive trypsinogen (IRT) test is a standard newborn screening test for CF. A high level of IRT suggests possible CF and requires further testing.
  • Sweat chloride test is the standard diagnostic test for CF. A high salt level in the patient's sweat is a sign of the disease.

Other tests that identify problems that can be related to cystic fibrosis include:

  • Chest x-ray or CT scan
  • Fecal fat test
  • Lung function tests
  • Measurement of pancreatic function
  • Trypsin and chymotrypsin in stool
  • Secretin stimulation test
  • Upper GI and small bowel series

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