Patient Stories
Stay connected!
Sign up for our weekly email newsletter for the latest parenting tips, patient stories, and news for your family from Boston Children's
Subscribe nowMore Stories
Research
Patient Stories
Clinical Care
Health and Parenting
Visit us on Facebook
748,283
Boston Children’s Hospital
Please read our social media policies before posting: http://bit.ly/1ac5GZ2
No more posts
The history of cystic fibrosis diagnosis
In 1955, Dr. Harry Shwachman, head of Boston Children’s Cystic Fibrosis Clinic, developed the first practical sweat test to diagnose cystic fibrosis (CF). It involved encasing the patient’s body in a plastic bag to collect sweat, then using the pictured device to measure levels of salt in the sample. Cystic fibrosis causes sweat to be 2-5 times saltier than average. The sweat test allowed for much simpler and earlier diagnosis of CF, crucial to effective treatment. A version of it is still the main diagnostic tool used today.
Learn more about Boston Children’s Archives Program.