Diagnosis of Beryllium Disease Beryllium lymphocyte proliferation test, using peripheral blood or bronchoalveolar lavage cells) Chest x-ray or CT Diagnosis of beryllium disease depends on a history of exposure, the appropriate clinical manifestations, and an abnormal beryllium lymphocyte proliferation test (BeLPT, in which lymphocytes are cultured with beryllium sulfate) done on blood, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, or both.