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Positive Screening Result
- Question
- Last Friday I took my one-month-old son to our doctor, who gave us my son´s screening results. The report stated that my son might be CF positive. There is a 5 – 10% probability of this. I am a diabetic and I was greatly upset by this information. I don´t know what the chances are that my son has CF, or if the test is positive or only unclear, as the CF web page states. No other blood testing has been arranged. I was only told I should make an appointment for a sweat test.
- Answer
- Hello,
I do apologise for my late reply, which has been caused by problems with this international server. I hope that your worries have been meanwhile proved ungrounded.
CF screening is carried out with all newborn children in the Czech Republic at obstetrics departments, together with other types of infant screening. Like all other screenings it is a very sensitive method. However, the possibility still remains of false positive results. The diagnosis can only be confirmed or ruled out through further tests.
CF diagnosis cannot be determined without a sweat test – a painless, non-invasive test of chloride level in sweat.
This screening is carried out with all newborns in the Czech Republic, as well as in other developed countries of the world. It is crucial to start CF treatment as soon as possible so that all CF patients can live as full a life as possible similar to that of their healthy peers.
If a CF diagnosis is confirmed, both infant and family are looked after by a team of CF specialists. This team includes psychologists, who provide support and help the family to get through their difficult situation.
Dr. J. Brázová - 16.11.2011
