New Type of Sweat Test Revealed to Diagnose Cystic Fibrosis

Unfortunately, at this point, sweat tests are not 100 percent accurate. There are times they may come back inconclusive. This may be due to improper testing or not enough sweat was collected to give results. If this happens, it is common practice for healthcare providers to order another sweat test. If the results of the second test come back with unclear results, genetic testing will take over. Inconclusive tests can lead to frustration, especially in parents. It is stressful enough for them to find out their child may have an illness. Tests that come back with an unclear answer can sometimes be even worse than a definitive yes. It leads to unnecessary added anxiety to an already emotional situation. It can lead to distasteful behavior and negative situations for healthcare workers as well. Though not at fault, they are responsible for having to explain unclear results. Parents may become irate and demand answers. They may be upset that they have to come back again for another test that could come back the same way.