Spirometry (Pulmonary Function Testing)
A non-invasive test of how your lungs are functioning
Overview
Spirometry is a non-invasive lung function test performed by breathing into a machine as it records features of your breaths, such as how much air you inhale and exhale and how quickly you can exhale. Interpretation of these features can reveal many aspects of your current lung function status, which can help diagnose conditions such as asthma, vocal cord dysfunction, fibrosis, and more. Sometimes this test will be repeated in specific scenarios – like after a breathing treatment or after exercising – to assess for any related changes in your lung function. Spirometry results can also be used to monitor changes in lung function with treatment.
(Due to the patient technique required for this test, it is often not able to be used in children under the age of 7.)