Table 1. Demographics of patients from whom sputum was obtained.

Demographics of CF sputum donors. In total, 11 sputum samples were collected from 7 female and 4 male patients, one of whom was African American. The remaining 10 were Caucasian. Mean patient age was 28.5 years, ranging from 18-46 years of age. Spirometry data were obtained for each patient at the time of sample collection. The mean FEV1 % predicted value was 48.8 ranging from normal (90% predicted) to severely impaired (24% predicted) lung function. Additionally mean FVC was 2.7 L, and mean FEF25-75 was 0.96. Values of pH, % solids, and mean complex viscosity (η*) were also obtained for each sputum sample. Mean pH was 7.1 within a narrow range (6.3-7.7), mean % solids was 5.6 and the mean η* was 2.5 Pa·s. Sputum was collected from patients with CF according to UNC IRB protocol #15-2431.

Category	Mean or Count (Std. Dev.)	Range
# Patients (male)	11 (4)	-
Age (years)	28.5 (9.6)	18-46
FEV1 % Predicted	48.8 (22.0)	24-90
FVC (L)	2.7 (1.0)	1.7-4.3
FEF25-75	0.96 (0.82)	0.3-2.7
pH	7.1 (0.42)	6.3-7.7
% solids	5.6 (2.5)	2.3-10.6
η* (Pa·s)	2.5 (1.5)	0.65-4.5