Letter: Cystic fibrosis: detection of heterozygotes.

We have developed a new technique for detecting cystic fibrosis (C.F.) and 
the heterozygote of C.F. The assay can be done by any 
laboratory having an aggregometer for measuring platelet aggregation. Quantitation of the 
results is obtained by comparing the transmittance recorded when only A.D.P. 
is added to platelet-rich plasma (P.R.P.). In C.F. patients and known 
heterozygotes, this ratio is 4 - 9 times higher than in 
healthy subjects. We have tested P.R.P. from 40 healthy people, 25 
patients with C.F., and 40 known heterozygotes. We could detect all 
C.F. patients and 95% of the known heterozygotes. 