Chronic Beryllium Disease: Diagnosis
Diagnosis of beryllium sensitization and chronic beryllium disease (CBD) begins with a beryllium lymphocyte proliferation test (BeLPT). The BeLPT is a blood test that helps determine if your immune system recognizes beryllium as a foreign invader and responds by building an "army" of cells in the bloodstream that are prepared to react to beryllium. In individuals who do not have beryllium sensitization or CBD, the immune system does not respond to beryllium in any manner. The BeLPT is an important first step in diagnosing disease, but it cannot determine if you have CBD (scarring in the lungs or simply beryllium sensitization ["allergy" to beryllium]). Additional testing is needed to determine whether or not you have the disease.
Individuals with two or more abnormal BeLPT results are encouraged to undergo further evaluation to determine if they have CBD. This evaluation typically includes an appointment with a physician familiar with the health effects of beryllium, exercise tolerance testing, pulmonary function testing, a chest x-ray and B read, blood work, and bronchoscopy with biopsy and lavage. Based on the outcomes of these tests, your physician will likely be able to determine if you have CBD.
Medical surveillance programs for beryllium are designed to identify individuals with beryllium sensitization or CBD, as well as work practices that may cause beryllium sensitization and CBD. Surveillance programs typically have several components, including medical screening tests, exposure assessment, and work task analysis. Data collected during surveillance can help identify rates of sensitization and disease among individuals who perform similar types of work, leading to better exposure controls for all workers.
