Test Overview
Lung function tests check to see how well your lungs work, and to see if your lungs are the cause of your symptoms. These tests can find lung problems, measure how serious they are, and check to see how well treatment for a lung disease is working.
Much like having your blood pressure tested before taking blood pressure medicine, a breathing test (lung function test) is the appropriate first step that could help to identify lung disease.
The tests look at:
- How much air your lungs can hold.
- How quickly you can move air in and out of your lungs.
- How well your lungs put oxygen into and remove carbon dioxide from your blood.
Types of lung function tests include:
- Spirometry.
- Gas diffusion.
- Lung volume testing.
- Inhalation (methacholine) challenge test.
- Exercise stress test.
Lung function results are measured directly in some tests and are calculated in others.
No single test can check for all of the lung function values, so more than one type of test may be done. Some tests may be repeated after you inhale medicine that enlarges your airways (bronchodilator).
Sometimes other tests are done at the same time as lung function tests. For example, you may have a blood test to check the oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in your blood (arterial blood gas test or ABG). This isn’t a lung test, but it can help to tell how well your lungs are working. Or you may have a small sensor attached to your finger to check the oxygen level in your blood (oximetry).
There are several different types of lung function tests. You may also hear these tests called pulmonary function tests, or PFTs. A complete or full PFT usually involves most of the types of tests listed above, but a full PFT is not always necessary. For example, to diagnose asthma or COPD, only the spirometry test is necessary.
Spirometry test
Spirometry is the most common lung function test. It measures how much and how quickly you can move air into and out of your lungs. You breathe into a mouthpiece attached to a recording device.
This test can measure many different things about the way you breathe and whether you respond to a reliever medicine.
Gas diffusion tests
Gas diffusion tests measure the amount of oxygen and other gases that move through the lungs' air sacs (alveoli) per minute. These tests let you know how well gases are being absorbed into your blood from your lungs. Gas diffusion tests include:
- Arterial blood gases. This test shows the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide in your bloodstream.
- Diffusion capacity (also called DLCO). This test measures how well your lungs transfer a small amount of carbon monoxide (CO) into the blood.
Lung volume tests
Lung volume testing (also called Body plethysmography) may be used to measure:
- Total lung capacity (TLC). This is the total amount of air your lungs can hold. For this test, you sit inside a small glass booth. You breathe into a mouthpiece while pressure and air flow measurements are collected.
- Residual volume (RV). This is the amount of air that remains in your lungs after you exhale as much as you can.
Inhalation challenge tests
Inhalation challenge tests are done to measure how your airways respond to substances that may be causing asthma or wheezing. These tests may also be called methacholine or bronchoprovocation tests.
During the test, you inhale increasing amounts of a substance through a nebulizer. This is a device that uses a face mask or a mouthpiece to deliver the substance in a fine mist (aerosol). Spirometry readings are taken to look at lung function before, during, and after you inhale the substance.
Exercise stress tests
Exercise stress tests look at how exercise affects your lungs. Spirometry readings are done before and immediately after exercise.
Lung function tests are done to:
- Find the cause of breathing problems.
- Find certain lung diseases, such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
- Check a person's lung function before surgery.
- Check the lungs of someone who is regularly exposed to chemicals or other things that can damage the lungs.
- Check how well treatments for lung diseases are working.
- Let your doctor know if you take medicines for a lung problem. You may need to stop some of them before the tests.
- Do not eat a heavy meal just before this test. A full stomach may keep your lungs from fully expanding.
- Don't smoke or do intense exercise for 6 hours before the test.
- For the test, wear loose clothing that doesn't restrict your breathing in any way.
- Avoid food or drinks with caffeine. Caffeine can cause your airways to relax and allow more air than usual to pass through.
- If you have dentures, wear them during the test. They help you form a tight seal around the mouthpiece of the machine.
Information about Lung Function Tests
Lung function tests are usually done in special rooms that have all of the right equipment.
For most of the tests, you'll wear a nose clip to keep air from leaking through your nose. Then you'll breathe into a mouthpiece connected to a recording device.
The exact steps depend on which test you have. For example, you may be asked to inhale as deeply as you can and then to exhale as fast and as hard as you can. You also may be asked to breathe in and out as deeply and as fast as you can for 15 seconds.
Some tests may be repeated after you have inhaled a spray (puff) containing medicine that expands the airways in your lungs. You may be asked to breathe a special mixture of gases, such as 100% oxygen, a mixture of helium and air, or a mixture of carbon monoxide and air.
If you have gas diffusion or lung volume tests, you will be asked to sit inside a small glass booth with big windows all around that allow you to see out.
The accuracy of the tests depends on how well you can follow all of the instructions. The healthcare professional will coach you and may ask you to breathe deeply during some of the tests to get the best results.
How long the tests take
The testing may take from 15 to 60 minutes, depending on how many tests you have.
Lung function tests are usually painless. Some of the tests may be tiring for people who have a lung disease.
You may cough or feel light-headed after breathing in or out rapidly, but you will be given a chance to rest between tests. It may not be comfortable to wear the nose clip or to breathe through the mouthpiece.
If you have gas diffusion or lung volume tests, you may feel uncomfortable in the airtight glass booth. But the healthcare professional will be nearby to open the door if you feel too uncomfortable.
If you are given breathing medicine, it may cause you to shake or may increase your heart rate. If you feel any chest pain or discomfort, tell the healthcare professional right away.
If you have an arterial blood gas test, you may feel some pain from the needle used to collect the blood.
For a healthy person, there's little or no risk in taking these tests. If you have a serious heart or lung condition, discuss your risks with your doctor.
Normal
Results are in the normal range for a person with healthy lungs.
The normal range is just a guide. Some test values vary by things like age and height. Your doctor will also look at your results based on your symptoms, health, and other factors. A value that isn't in the normal range may still be normal for you.
Abnormal
Test results are outside of the normal range for a person with healthy lungs. This may be a sign of lung disease. Many health conditions can change how well your lungs are working. And exposure to certain things, such as smoke or chemical fumes, can also affect how well your lungs are working. Your doctor will talk with you about any abnormal results that may be related to your symptoms and past health.
Adaptation Date: 05/22/2024
Adapted By: Alberta Health Services
Adaptation Reviewed By: Alberta Health Services
