PILOT TRIAL OF AN INFANT SCREENING PROGRAMME FOR CYSTIC FIBROSIS - MEASUREMENT OF PAROTID SALIVARY SODIUM AT 4 MONTHS

In a pilot trial in which 1335 4-month-old babies were screened for cystic fibrosis by measuring the sodium content of unstimulated parotid saliva with a sodium sensitive electrode, the cost was less than 5s. per child screened, and one case of cystic fibrosis was diagnosed. The screening technique proved acceptable and reliable, and should be applied in larger scale trials.