Sweat Test

Posted: Mon, Aug 24 2009, 4:47 pm Post subject: Sweat Test

Anyone's child had to take a sweat test? I'm completely freaked out, although my pediatrician's office said not to worry. My 4-month-old had the newborn screening done in the hospital (when he was born) and it seems like they want to test him now for CF.

I thought this was impossible, since my husband and I came up as compatible through Dor Yeshorim?

Anyone?

Moderator Joined: May 20 2007 Posts: 2329

There are now a few more strains of CF that were not available at the time the test was developed by Dor Yeshurim.
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Moderator Joined: Nov 20 2005 Posts: 4870

First relax. The test itself it non-invasive. It basically is a band they put around the arm which induces sweat. They then collect the sweat and send it away for testing.
the whole test takes about 45 minutes in total and will not hurt your baby in the least bit. As far as you freaking out, it's normal to get nervous and worry about the results. Chances are it's an error. However, in the chance that it does come out positive, there are actually over 1000 genes that are responsible for CF as they know today. Affected people with CF range from very mild to severe. The fact that your baby has no symptoms and is only being retested due to PKU testing is actually a good sign. There are many therapies and medical advances these days which can give patients with CF a really good prognosis. For now, I wouldnt go there yet, until further studies rule it out.

Hatzlacha!

Diamond Member Joined: Apr 03 2006 Posts: 4473

Don't worry its probably nothing, my niece had this scare and it was fine BH. That newborn screening test has a lot of bugs. There are a ton of false positives.

Silver Member Joined: Apr 19 2009 Posts: 590

We just did this 1.5 weeks ago with my almost 2 year old. I was also wondering why necessary after Dor Yesharim but we were told by ped. that not all strains are tested by D.Y. The test was non-invasive and painless to the child. the only annoying part was the wait--we waited almost an hour to be taken in for the test, then by the time they induced the sweat and collected it, we were completely worn out. We are still waiting for the results. Hatzlacha to you!

Posted: Mon, Aug 31 2009, 6:29 am Post subject: re: Sweat Test

To both amother and theotherone; did you retest and get results? thinking of you.

Posted: Mon, Aug 31 2009, 9:04 pm Post subject: re: Sweat Test

OP here. Went for the sweat test today and it came back that although my baby (b"h!!!) doesn't have CF he is a carrier of the disease. They weren't the clearest explaining it, but it means s/t to the effect that he can pass this disease on only if he marries s/o that's also carrying it. (It also must mean that either me/my husband are carriers.) I need to talk to s/o how this can affect future kids of ours, etc. But baruch hashem my baby's fine.

Senior Member Joined: Sep 02 2008 Posts: 208

b"H hes just a carrier. I don't understand-why would you worry about future kids of yours if only you or your husband is a carrier and not both, then as long as your kids do dor yeshorim before marrying it should be fine.

Posted: Mon, Aug 31 2009, 10:07 pm Post subject: re: Sweat Test

They were so unclear and my head wasn't on straight today from the stress of it all.

Platinum Member Joined: Jun 22 2008 Posts: 6468

we have to do this test, anyone ever did in Brooklyn? apparently there is only 1 testing site in Brooklyn....

Posted: Wed, Nov 25 2009, 12:48 am Post subject: re: Sweat Test

Many years ago we knew of a similar experience. The sweat tests came back positive, and the child suffered with constant diarhea and slow weight gain. B'H a second opinion suggested a second sweat test, and that was fine, and the child is now married, and healthy, and the father of several children....

G-d willing your test will turn out similarly! Good Luck

Posted: Wed, Nov 25 2009, 3:00 am Post subject: re: Sweat Test

I took my 16 month old for this recently because he was not gaining weight. B"H, although it was a pain to get to the test and wait, it came back fine and we ruled out CF. The doctor says he's not worried (we also did urine, stool and blood tests) and my baby is probably just a small kid. He's growing in height well and developing fine. We also did the Dor Yeshurim tests and were compatible.

Platinum Member Joined: Aug 29 2007 Posts: 12058

We did one a couple of years ago for dd who is asthmatic because she was eating salt. B"H everything was OK.

Platinum Member Joined: Jun 22 2008 Posts: 6468

the dr isn't worried but since my daughter isn't gaining weight and had a few episodes of wheezing, its on the long list of tests she wants to do before she does and endoscopy.

Active Poster Joined: Jul 02 2007 Posts: 36

I think it became standard to do sweat tests these days when a child either has asthma/breathing related problems or doesn't gain weight. My son had the test done after he had pneumonia 3 times in one year. As far as Dor Yesharim goes, they only check for the most common strains of CF, but there are thousands of strains of CF. It also seems that the newborn hospital test is not 100% accurate.

Platinum Member Joined: Jun 22 2008 Posts: 6468

does anyone know where I can do this test in New York?

Gold Member Joined: Dec 26 2007 Posts: 1364

I think you can do it any hospital.

Platinum Member Joined: Jun 22 2008 Posts: 6468

Posted: Tue, Apr 27 2010, 12:26 am Post subject: re: Sweat Test

can't you ask her dr?

Platinum Member Joined: Jun 22 2008 Posts: 6468