ArticleCureus2022
Evaluation of Nasal Mucociliary Clearance Using Saccharin Test Versus Charcoal Test Among Filipinos in a Tertiary Government Hospital.
Article in Cureus, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed, 5 citations in OpenAlex.
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- Comment on Cho et al. Effects of Adjuvant Respiratory Therapy on Secretion Expectoration and Treatment Adherence in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer Receiving Concurrent Chemo-Radiotherapy.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2026Article
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Authors and funding
2 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundNasal mucociliary clearance is mainly measured using the saccharin test because it is inexpensive, readily available, and non-toxic. However, in the local setting, the authors had difficulty procuring saccharin, and this prompted the authors to look for an alternative. Upon an expansive review of the literature, the authors came to know about the use of charcoal that has the same properties as saccharin plus it is inert and easily traceable. The objectives of this study were to (1) establish the normal nasal mucociliary clearance time (MCT) using the saccharin test (ST) and charcoal test (CT) among Filipinos, (2) determine if CT can be used to determine nasal mucociliary clearance and (3) determine if the age, sex, land of dwelling, and comorbidities can prolong MCT.
methodsThis is a cross-sectional study involving 50 subjects. ST and CT were performed by placing a particle of sodium saccharine and 10μg of charcoal on the medial surface and at least 1 cm behind the head of the inferior turbinate. All STs were done on the right nostril while CTs were done on the left. A 0- to 20-minute MCT was considered normal while MCT of more than 30 minutes was considered prolonged clearance. Lastly, a transit time of more than 60 minutes was considered a failed mucociliary clearance test.
resultsThe mean mucociliary transit time for the saccharin group was 14.48 minutes while for the charcoal group was 14.78 minutes (p=0.531). When grouped into subcategories, CT results showed a higher mucociliary clearance mean time among males, provincial residents, and those without comorbidities while ST had a higher mean mucociliary clearance time among females, Metro Manila residents, and those with comorbidities. All were noted to be not statistically significant.
conclusionThis study showed that CT is comparable with ST. Also, it can be used as an alternative to ST because the tester directly observes the charcoal transit in the oropharynx while ST relies on the patient's perception of taste that could result in false results.
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