What is a Spirometry Test?
Spirometry tests are used to gauge a patient’s pulmonary function; specifically, it is a measurement of the amount and speed of air that can be inhaled and exhaled.
What Can a Spirometry Test Help Diagnose?
Spirometry is used to help diagnose pulmonary conditions such as asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
How is a Spirometry Test Taken?
To begin, please ensure that you’ve followed our patient checklist:
- Bring all current medications to the appointment
- Do not wear any perfumes or colognes on the day of the appointment
- Please do not take bronchodilators on the day of the test. You may continue your anti-inflammatory/controller medication
A spirometry test is very easy to complete. The patient will be asked to breathe in (inhale) as much air as they can into their lungs. Next, the patient is asked to quickly exhale as much air out as they can through a tube, which is connected to a device (spirometer).
Pre/Post Bronchodilator Spirometry
Pre/Post bronchodilator spirometry test is done in two easy steps:
- The patient is asked to perform a regular spirometry test prior to taking their bronchodilator.
- The patient is asked to perform the same test after they have taken their bronchodilator.
This test is conducted to first produce a baseline spirometry test result. A second test is then conducted, post-bronchodilator, to illustrate the effectiveness of a bronchodilator on the patient.