Sweat Test
What Affects the Test
Reasons your child may not be able to have the test or why the results may not be helpful include:
- A baby's age. Babies younger than 4 weeks may not produce enough sweat to give reliable test results and may have lower sweat chloride levels than older babies and children. A minimum amount of sweat is needed for accurate test results regardless of the child's age.
- A skin rash or sore on the area of the skin where the gauze pads are attached.
- Acute or severe illness.
- Reference Dehydration Opens New Window or heavy sweating.
- Decreased sweating.
- Normal fluctuations in sodium and chloride during Reference puberty Opens New Window.
- A decrease in the hormone aldosterone.
- Steroid medicines, such as fludrocortisone.
| By: | Reference Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: Reference June 15, 2011 |
| Medical Review: | Reference John Pope, MD - Pediatrics
Reference Susanna McColley, MD - Pediatric Pulmonology |
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