Measurement of chloride in sweat with the chloride-selective electrode.

We describe here an improved method for the sweat test with the 
chloride-selective electrode, after sweat production is stimulated with pilocarpine, which gives 
results comparable to the more tedious procedure of Gibson and Cooke. 
Cystic fibrosis should never be diagnosed solely on the results of 
any kind of sweat test; the diagnosis must be consistent with 
the results of the physical examination, history, and other studies, including 
a repeat of the two sweat tests at another time. Only 
by clinical examination and repeated sweat tests can a physician confirm 
or rule out this diagnosis. 