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Sweat electrolytes

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Definition:

This is a test that measures the level of chloride in sweat.

Alternative Names:

Sweat test; Sweat chloride; Iontophoretic sweat test

How the test is performed:

A low-level electric current is applied to the test area. The positive electrode is covered by gauze and saturated with pilocarpine (a drug that stimulates sweating ). The negative electrode is covered with gauze and saturated with bicarbonate solution.

A current is applied for 5 to 12 minutes, and a paper disk is then placed over the test site and covered with paraffin to obtain an airtight seal. After 1 hour, the disk is transferred to a weighing jar, then put in water to dissolve the salts. This solution is then analyzed for chloride.

How to prepare for the test:

No special preparation is necessary. Make sure the center where the test is being performed is a cystic fibrosis testing center.

How the test will feel:

The test does not cause any discomfort.

Why the test is performed:

Children with cystic fibrosis have increased sodium and chloride concentrations in their sweat. The test may be performed on infants to determine if early therapy is needed.

• Review Date: 12/1/2005
• Reviewed By: Daniel Rauch, MD, FAAP, Director, Pediatric Hospitalist Program, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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