Pulmonary Function Testing (PFT)

Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) are a series of non-invasive tests that show how well the lungs are working. The tests performed to measure lung volume, capacity, rates of flow and gas exchange. The results from these tests can help identify the severity of pulmonary impairment and can assist in the diagnosis and treatment of most lung disorders.

• Types of PFTs
• PFT Locations

Types of PFTs

• Spirometry
  A breathing maneuver that measures the amount of air you can inhale, the amount of air you can exhale and how quickly (fast) you can exhale. Spirometry may be performed before and after an inhaled bronchodilator.

• Lung volume testing
  Lung volume and capacity can be determined by several different methods that include breathing in oxygen for up to several minutes on a machine. 

• Diffusion Capacity (DLCO)
  A breathing maneuver that requires a brief breath-hold to assess how well your lungs allow oxygen to pass in and out of your lungs.

• Bronchoprovocation test
  Typically used to diagnose asthma by finding out how ‘reactive’ or ‘responsive’ your lungs are after inhaling either aerosolized chemicals or cold air or performing exercises to see if it induces asthma symptoms in a controlled environment.

• Exhaled nitric oxide level (FeNO) test
  This test can help diagnose and manage asthma. It measures the amount of nitric oxide in the air you slowly exhale out of your lungs. The exhaled nitric oxide test is different from most PFTs in that you need to blow slowly and steadily, not hard and fast, to get an accurate measurement.