Pedersen SK, et al. - In a clinical setting, researchers assessed the diagnostic utility of the mannitol test. At the respiratory outpatient clinic, Hvidovre Hospital, all patients who underwent a mannitol challenge test as part of their diagnostic work-up for asthma over a 5-year period were examined. Information was gathered regarding case history, including previous diagnoses, spirometry, exhaled nitric oxide (F_ENO). Guidelines were followed to perform mannitol challenge. The factors that were identified as determinants for a positive mannitol test included female gender, increasing BMI, exercise-induced cough, night-time respiratory symptoms, low FEV₁/FVC ratio and high F_ENO. The test yielded specificity and sensitivity of 94% and 56%, respectively, in everyday clinical work-up of patients with possible asthma, these values were comparable to previous controlled trials.