How can you know for sure if you or your child has cystic fibrosis? If someone in your family has the disease, could you pass it down to your children?
There are several ways to help answer these important questions.
Genetic Carrier Testing — More than 10 million Americans are symptomless carriers of the defective CF gene. This test can help detect carriers, who could pass CF onto their children. To have cystic fibrosis, a child must inherit one copy of the defective CF gene from each parent.
Each time two carriers of the CF gene have a child, the chances are:
25% the child will have CF;
50% the child will carry the CF gene but not have CF; and
25% the child will not carry the gene and not have CF.
Click here to learn more about genetic carrier testing.
Newborn Screening — Newborns screened for cystic fibrosis can benefit from early diagnosis and treatment, which can:
While newborn screening is not a definitive diagnostic test for cystic fibrosis, it may lead to tests that can rule out or confirm a CF diagnosis. The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend screening for cystic fibrosis for all newborns.
Click here to learn more about newborn screening.
Sweat Test — If a person exhibits symptoms of CF, a doctor may order a sweat test. This simple, painless test is the best way to diagnose CF. It measures the concentration of salt in a person’s sweat. A high salt level indicates CF.
Sweat tests should be done at a Cystic Fibrosis Foundation-accredited care center where strict guidelines help ensure accurate results.
Click here to learn more about the sweat test.
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