What is the Beryllium Blood Test – Beryllium Lymphocyte Proliferation Test (Be-LPT)?
The Lymphocyte Proliferation Test (LPT) is a laboratory blood test that examines how a type of disease-fighting blood cells that are normally found in the body, called lymphocytes, reacts to beryllium. In general terms, the Be-LPT is performed by culturing lymphocytes from peripheral blood. Beryllium and other substances needed for the test are then added to small groups of these lymphocytes. The laboratories call a test “abnormal” if lymphocytes react strongly, normal if lymphocytes do not react, “borderline” if the response is weak or indeterminate, and “uninterpretable” if the blood sample was damaged in shipment or there was another technical problem with the test. Experts believe that the Be-LPT shows abnormal results in individuals who have become “sensitized” to beryllium and that sensitization is the first step to getting CBD. Studies have shown that practically all individuals with CBD also are sensitized. On the other hand, many individuals that are sensitized to beryllium do
