Screening for cystic fibrosis among newborns in Norway by measurement of serum/plasma trypsin-like immunoreactivity. Results of a 2 1/2-year pilot project.
A pilot project for neonatal screening for cystic fibrosis (CF) by measuring trypsin-like immunoreactivity (TLI) in liquid serum or plasma samples was carried out in Norway from May 1982 to December 1984. A total of 72,320 newborns was screened. Twelve infants were recalled for sweat testing; 11 were confirmed to have CF. One infant had normal sweat sodium and chloride levels and no clinical symptoms. The incidence of CF in this study was 1:6574, and the recall rate for second blood samples was 0.6%. No false-negative cases have yet been reported. The level of TLI was affected by the use of heparin in plasma preparation, being reduced by about 20% as compared to serum levels.