CF Resource | Health & Wellness

Genetic testing and sweat tests

Provinces and Procedures

Newfoundland and Labrador

Request must be made by the CF team or a physician.
Test is collected locally and processed at Janeway Children’s Hospital

Ontario

Referral from a physician.
Sweat tests can be performed at the CF clinics in Ottawa, Kingston, Toronto, Hamilton, Kitchener, London and Sudbury.

Alberta

Referral made by a physician.
Patients captured in NBS are booked and community physicians can book tests directly.
Sweat tests can be performed at Alberta Children’s Hospital, University of Alberta Hospital, Stollery Children’s Hospital.

Manitoba

Referral for testing is required by a physician.
Sweat tests can be performed at the respiratory clinic at the Children's Hospital of Winnipeg (children and adults).

Quebec

Referral for testing is required by a physician.
Hospitals with CF clinics offer sweat tests, but the official referral centres include: Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec – Université de Laval (Ville de Québec) - Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke - Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sainte-Justine (CHU SainteJustine) - Centre Universitaire de Santé de McGill (CUSM).

Nova Scotia

Referral for testing is required by a physician.
Sweat tests can be done at IWK Health Centre.

New Brunswick

Referral required by a physician.
Sweat tests are done as outpatient tests and performed at your closest hospital.

Saskatchewan

Referral required by a physician.
Sweat tests are performed once a week at the labs in Regina General Hospital and Jim Patterson Children’s Hospital.

British Columbia

Indication for testing is required and must be ordered by a physician.
Victoria (Royal Jubilee, Victoria General): Requisition is sent to either Nanaimo General Hospital or Victoria General Hospital.
Vancouver: Sweat tests are done at BC Children’s Hospital - BC Children’s Hospital has a list of hospitals that do sweat tests for outreach clinics.

Yukon

Indication for testing is required and must be ordered by a physician.
Victoria (Royal Jubilee, Victoria General): Requisition is sent to either Nanaimo General Hospital or Victoria General Hospital.
Vancouver: Sweat tests are done at BC Children’s Hospital - BC Children’s Hospital has a list of hospitals that do sweat tests for outreach clinics.

Northwest Territories

Referral made by a physician.
Patients captured in NBS are booked and community physicians can book tests directly - Sweat tests can be performed at Alberta Children’s Hospital, University of Alberta Hospital, Stollery Children’s Hospital.

Genetic testing:

Genetic testing can be used to confirm a CF diagnosis. A CF diagnosis includes a positive sweat test result and two identified CFTR mutations. Genetic testing includes testing for a panel of common CF mutations. Inconclusive tests can occur when an individual has a rare mutation, in which case further testing would be required. If you have a family history of CF and know the specific mutations, it is best to communicate that when seeking a test.

You can also get a genetic test done to confirm carrier status and for family planning purposes. It is important to note that carriers do not have CF and will have a sweat test measurement in the normal range.

Indications to obtain genetic testing (one of):

1. Symptoms of CF

2. Family history of CF

3. Partner of someone with a family history of CF and wanting to start a family