title: Effect of salt supplementation on the rate of inadequate sweat collection for infants less than 3 months of age referred for the sweat test.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sweat testing in young infants (≤ 3 months) with a positive newborn screen for Cystic Fibrosis (CF) can yield higher rates of inadequate sweat collection. The role of salt supplements in improving sweat collection has not been studied before.
  
  
  METHODS
  All young infants referred to our CF center for sweat testing were randomized to either receive salt supplements {1/8th teaspoon salt (750 mg)} mixed in formula feeds 1 day prior to sweat testing (study group) or no salt supplement (controls).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 151 young infants that underwent sweat testing over 18 months, 75 received salt supplements, while 76 did not. A total of 9 (11.8%) infants in the salt supplement group had inadequate sweat collection, as compared to 4 (5.2%) infants in the control group (p = 0.16, Fisher's Exact Test).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oral salt supplementation for young infants prior to sweat testing does not help to reduce the rates of inadequate sweat collection.
authors.forename: Lokesh
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guglani
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Abdulhamid
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D015997:Neonatal Screening / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012492:Salts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000032:analysis; D013542:Sweat
chemical_list: D012492:Salts; D012965:Sodium Chloride