Infants with cystic fibrosis 1 to 2 weeks of age show increased levels of immunoreactive trypsin in the plasma in the neonatal heel-prick test.
The test is positive if immunoreactive trypsin is greater than 80 mcg/litre. It is currently the best screening test for cystic fibrosis but cannot be done after the 8 weeks of life since the immunoreactive trypsin falls as pancreatic insufficiency develops.
Immunoreactive trypsin is also raised in haemorrhagic shock and encephalopathy.
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