A MODIFIED TC-99M ISOTOPE TEST TO MEASURE NASAL MUCOCILIARY TRANSPORT - COMPARISON WITH THE SACCHARINE-DYE TEST

In this study two indirect mucociliary transport tests were compared. Nine subjects underwent duplicate saccharine-dye tests and duplicate modified technetium-99m (Tc-99m) tests, in which the radioactive Tc-99m was nebulized in the nostril by means of a pump spray. The efficacy of mucociliary transport was deduced from the transport time of saccharine, dye and Tc-99m. Transport rate also provided additional information in the Tc-99m test. Transport rate correlated best in the repeated tests (r = 0.46) but was not significant (P = 0.21). Use of a pump spray for the Tc-99m test instead of placement of a single droplet on the nasal mucosa makes the test easier to perform.