Newborn babies can be screened for CF using 'blood spot screening'. A few days after birth the midwife pricks your baby's heel using a special device to collect some drops of blood. The blood is tested and may show if your baby has CF. If blood spot screening indicates that your baby could have CF, s/he may be offered a sweat test. It involves a small amount of sweat being collected from your baby's skin and tested for its salt content. People with CF have a large amount of salt in their sweat.
Attribution: BUPA
See also:
- Cystic fibrosis
- Inheritance of cystic fibrosis
- Family screening for cystic fibrosis
- Treatment of gastrointestinal cystic fibrosis
- Treatment of lung cystic fibrosis