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Sweat Test Advice...

chipper28

New member
I'm hoping someone has some suggestions to help get a sufficient
quantity off of a sweat test.  <br>
<br>
I originally had a positive sweat test years ago which had
insufficient quantity, but they went ahead and run.  Then, a
week or so ago, I went in to get this redone at a certified cf
sweat center laboratory thingiemabogger.  They had extreme
difficulty getting my skin to conduct electricity.  They used
a total of 8 of those gel pilocarpine (sp) pads and ran the current
for a total of about twenty minutes.  In the end, they had put
the two electrodes right next to each other and gone and gotten one
of the larger lab techs to come and lean his body weight into the
electrodes.  This seemed to work, and then they put the
collector on for the next 45 minutes.  With this final
methodology, I managed to almost fill the tubes in the collector
and barely had a trace of blue.  <br>
<br>
The result came back positive, so I had to go in for the repeat
certified test.  They started with the methodology of cleaning
my arm and then having the same guy lean into my arm.
 Result<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-shocked.gif" border="0">uantity not sufficient.  Then they did the same
thing on the other arm.  This time they had an even harder
time getting a current to run, so he was seriously leaning his
weight into my arm (ie I've got a lovely bruise).  Again,
quantity not sufficient.<br>
<br>
I'm wondering if there is anything I can do to make the sweat
sufficient this time.  The repeated exposure to the pads like
they did the first time doesn't seem like the best idea, because I
had a series of little blisters that looked like a rash.  I'm
wondering if it would mess anything up to go outside (I'm in Texas)
and run around during the thirty minutes as that is likely to
increase the sweat.<br>
<br>
One of the techs mentioned that they might be able to wrap me up in
a series of heated blankets to increase the sweating.  <br>
<br>
Any ideas?
 

JustDucky

New member
Hello! I am sorry the techs are having such a time with getting the sweat out of you. When I went for my sweat test, the techs did indeed wrap my arm in warm towels to help the sweating process. I am one of the lucky ones, I sweat on command and the pad was dripping within 10 minutes. I don't have any other advice except to try the towels. Good luck and hugs, Jenn <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
M

Mommafirst

Guest
Our lab tech told me that for toddlers and kids they have the kids
run around for awhile to increase the sweat.  <br>
<br>
We had several insufficient sweats with my dd, so our pulmonologist
just order the blood dna screen instead.  Perhaps if they
can't get enough sweat it would be easier for them to take some
blood.<br>
<br>
<br>
Heather<br>
<br>
mom to Alyssa (6 months w/CF), Reese (almost 3) & Richie (5)
both being tested.
 

debs2girls

New member
My dd had 5 sweat tests and with all of them they wrapped her arm with plastic wrap. She had three at one clinic and two more at a different one and both places did it the same way.
 

coltsfan715

New member
When I have had these tests run they have always wrapped my arm with saran/plastic wrap like Debbie mentioned. I hope they are able to get a good amount next time.

Lindsey
 
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