Children with chronic respiratory symptoms under the care of the paediatric respiratory consultants often require investigations. The paediatric respiratory nurses organise these investigations in outpatients on a Thursday afternoon to coincide with Heather who performs sweat tests. A child with chronic productive cough refractory to a prolonged course of oral antibiotics should be further investigated with a sweat test, nasal NO and immune profile (FBC, film, immunoglobulins including IgE, Functional antibodies, save serum). There may be other blood tests that are relevant e.g. specific IgE tests, avian precipitins, lymphocyte subsets, complement etc. We try and combine all of these tests in the investigation clinic, so that the patient only makes a single trip to the hospital. Our secretaries Lisa and Leila coordinate this clinic so contact them first if you are asked about arranging tests.

A patient information leaflet on nasal-NO available here