General info on beryllium
Beryllium
is a light metal and because of it's physico-chemical properties it is
a metal of choice in the preparation of alloys. Important economic
sectors such as mining, extraction and recycling, aerospace,
automobile, electronic and electrical pieces, sport articles, nuclear
industries as well as dentistry have developped uses beryllium in the
past.
When the alloys are
processed, beryllium is frequently released as dust or fume. The
diameter of these particles is so small, they can go directly into the
lungs and induce a Beryllium Sensitization (BeS). Sensitization means
that an individual has mounted a specific immune response against
beryllium.
These sensitized
individuals have to be rapidly identified in order to remove them from
the exposure so that the probability of conversion from a sensitized
status to the development of chronic berylliosis
disease may be diminished. The standard test to detect a BeS individual
is the Beryllium Lymphocyte Proliferation Test (BeLPT) where berylium
responsive blood cells are detected.
Immuni T is providing the BeLPT test under contract with the Institut de Recherche Robert Sauvé en Santé et Séucrité au Travail ( IRSST) . Its terms define the nature and the
conditions under which the test is delivered. The IRSST is paying for
the test if it is delivered by a recognized laboratory such as Immuni T
and if it was requested by a recognized health and social service
establishment in the province of Quebec .
Links to additional BeLPT information :
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