Screening for cystic fibrosis by examination of meconium.

The value of detecting albumin in meconium as a screening procedure for 
cystic fibrosis (CF) has been assessed on 34,228 samples in South 
Wales and North Staffordshire over a 4-year period; simultaneously, four methods 
of detecting albumin were evaluated. 12 cases of CF were detected, 
detection rate being 60%. The incidence of the disease in the 
population screened was 1 in 1850, confirmed by clinical and other 
test procedures. Cases of CF without impairment of pancreatic function are 
likely to be missed by screening methods which depend on the 
presence of albumin in meconium. 