First a Positive, now a negative...which one's right??

My son's first test came back with a 74.   Then the doctor ordered another sweat chloride test along with a fecal elastace and a fecal fat spot test.   This second sweat test came back with a number of 36!!!   We're still waiting for the results of the stool studies. 

While they were trying to rule this out, I started to do a lot more looking into the symptoms of CF.  My son has had 2 respiratory illnesses causing him to be on the neubulizer (one hospitalization), however he also tends to get any cold that he comes into contact with.  He continues to have bouts of constipation despite the medications that he's on.  Most of the stools are a very light tan almost yellow in color (TMI, I know...) and are very stinky.  If they're not little pebbles, or baseball sized, they're very thick, yet runny if that makes any sense.

I'm not sure what to think at this point in time.  The pediatrician says that with this second test being negative, that if the stool studies are negative, then he doesn't have CF.  My thoughts are, what about this first test???  and is it common to see such different results between the 2 tests?    Lots of questions....

Thanks for reading!

cabner

Hello Cabner.  Welcome to Healingwell!

Where were the two sweat tests performed at?  Were they both at CF accredited centers that you know of?

I believe the Gibson/Cooke method of sweat testing is the prefered test.  There are several other methods of sweat testing.

My son had the Wescor and the Gibson/Cooke, both of his were positive.  I believe that his pulmo said the different tests that are performed at the same time (both arms) and or on different days (must have 2 seperate tests for diagnosis) should be in the range of no more or less than a difference of 15 in the scores/totals. 

I have some links on information about the sweat tests.  I will post them in a bit.

Has your doctor mentioned doing a gene mutation test (blood anyalysis)?

Good luck and hope you find your answers for your little boy.

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. ~Dr. Seuss

Post Edited (imondeck) : 7/19/2006 7:32:15 AM (GMT-6)

I would schedule another sweat test at an accredited center.  Doesn't sound like they are performing them right.

Here is a link for the guidelines on sweat testing, keep in mind the link is from the UK.  It goes into great detail and information (I found it interesting). 

http://www.acb.org.uk/docs/sweat.pdf

Good luck!

Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. ~Dr. Seuss