<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>peasmom</b></i>
To Jazzysmom--Is this Ambry panel something my pediatrician can order prior to going to the specialist and is it just a matter of Blood work? Would it benifit to have all the test we can prior to going? or will this MD want to order her own. Being a Nurse myself I try not to be that "irritating-pain-in-the-butt-patient" but at this point Im thinking I don't care who I irritate. What I'm asking is do these Dr's tend to stay with there own test facilities or is a lab a lab no matter where it's done? How do you feel about the sweat test and it's accuracy, I see some messages that say their child was neg. with the sweat test but it ended up the child was actually positive for CF. Any opinion on it</end quote></div>
It is a blood test that any doctor can order. Since an extended panel from Ambry takes a while......if this is what is ordered the sooner the better. It is very important that it not just be sent to any lab since Ambry has the most extended testing for CF mutations. It will assure more accuracy. The sweat test is helpful, but is no longer the golden rule. It use to be the only available diagnostic testing available. Since the CF gene was found and genetic testing has started....it has become more apparent how unreliable the sweat test can be. Its not bad to have it, but to use it as the only testing isnt recommended especially when results come back negative or borderline.
To Jazzysmom--Is this Ambry panel something my pediatrician can order prior to going to the specialist and is it just a matter of Blood work? Would it benifit to have all the test we can prior to going? or will this MD want to order her own. Being a Nurse myself I try not to be that "irritating-pain-in-the-butt-patient" but at this point Im thinking I don't care who I irritate. What I'm asking is do these Dr's tend to stay with there own test facilities or is a lab a lab no matter where it's done? How do you feel about the sweat test and it's accuracy, I see some messages that say their child was neg. with the sweat test but it ended up the child was actually positive for CF. Any opinion on it</end quote></div>
It is a blood test that any doctor can order. Since an extended panel from Ambry takes a while......if this is what is ordered the sooner the better. It is very important that it not just be sent to any lab since Ambry has the most extended testing for CF mutations. It will assure more accuracy. The sweat test is helpful, but is no longer the golden rule. It use to be the only available diagnostic testing available. Since the CF gene was found and genetic testing has started....it has become more apparent how unreliable the sweat test can be. Its not bad to have it, but to use it as the only testing isnt recommended especially when results come back negative or borderline.