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Fact Sheet Test Proliferation Lymphocyte The WHAT IS THE LYMPHOCYTE PROLIFERATION TEST? If both of your tests are abnormal, it might If your LPT is abnormal, you should discuss simply mean that you have been exposed to it with your personal physician, especially if The Lymphocyte Proliferation Test (LPT) is beryllium and your body’s lymphocytes react you are being treated for another health a laboratory test that examines how a type strongly to beryllium. The tests may indicate condition. Upon your request, the results of of disease-fighting blood cell in our bodies something more, however: the LPT, as well as your other examinations, — called lymphocytes — reacts to beryl- will be sent to the doctors you are seeing. lium. It is performed on blood drawn from • An abnormal LPT may mean that you are Your doctors can call the doctors performing your arm. If the LPT suggests you may more likely than others with similar expo- these tests if they have any technical ques- have Chronic Beryllium Disease, you will sure to develop Chronic Beryllium Disease tions about the testing or the results. receive information about additional testing in the future, that can be done through a special Depart- or The symptoms of chronic beryllium disease ment of Labor program. • An abnormal LPT, for some, may be an include: shortness of breath (especially with early sign of Chronic Beryllium Disease activity), cough, chest pain, fatigue, weight (CBD). loss, and loss of appetite. If your LPT is WHAT DO THE RESULTS OF normal, but you begin to have any of these MY TEST MEAN? An abnormal LPT alone does NOT mean symptoms in the future, you may request that you have Chronic Beryllium Disease. It another test by calling one of the toll-free If your cells did not react to beryllium very does not mean that you are sick or will get telephone numbers listed on the other side of strongly, then your test is called “normal”. sick. It does mean that you will be asked to this page. It is highly unlikely that you are currently undergo further testing by pulmonologists sensitized to beryllium or have Chronic who are experienced in diagnosing Chronic This fact sheet was prepared for your use in Beryllium Disease. Nevertheless, if you have Beryllium Disease. These tests and your part from information supplied by the had prior beryllium exposure you may still consultations with pulmonologists will be paid Workplace Health Fund. It is NOT meant become beryllium sensitized in the future. for by the Department of Labor. You do not as a substitute for consulting with your own It can take years to develop sensitization in have to have any additional tests if you don’t doctor! However, because Chronic Beryl- some individuals. Therefore, follow-up tests want them. lium Disease is rare, most family doctors will be offered to you. and internists have not had the opportunity If your LPT results are abnormal and your to treat individuals with Chronic Beryllium If your cells reacted strongly to beryllium, current job exposes you to elevated levels of Disease. For this reason, you may also wish then the LPT is called “abnormal” and the beryllium in the air, you should seriously to consult a lung specialist that your doctor first thing we need to do is re-test your consider moving, as a precaution, to a job recommends. If you do not have a personal blood to confirm our results. Medical tests without significant beryllium exposure until a physician, you can request a list of board are sometimes difficult to interpret, and so final diagnosis can be made. You have the certified pulmonary doctors from the local medical doctors like to run a second test to right to challenge any medical restrictions medical society, or look for a pulmonary confirm that no error was made. placed upon you. doctor in the yellow pages.