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Respiratory Lung Function Test Service menu

There are some reasons when lung function tests may not be performed.


These include: Heart attack within the last month; Any recent surgery to eyes, chest or stomach; Pneumothorax (collapsed lung) Current or recent chest infection (within the past two weeks) Chest pain on the day of your test; High blood pressure that cannot be controlled.

SPIROMETRY

Spirometry measures the volume and pace of air you can forcefully exhale from your lungs after a maximal breath in. This is measured with a device called a spirometer.

GAS TRANSFER

This test measures how well you can move, or ‘transfer’ gases from the lungs to the bloodstream. In this test you will be asked to take a deep breath in of a harmless gas mix and hold your breath for around 10 seconds. While you are holding your breath some of the gas moves from your lungs to your blood.

LUNG VOLUMES

Although it may feel like it, your lungs are never completely empty even when you have blown out as far as you can in the spirometry test. So, to work out your total lung volume (or total lung capacity) we use a test that measures the air you can’t breathe out as well as the air you can.

FeNO (EXHALED NITRIC OXIDE)

It is a biomarker of airway inflammation and is commonly associated with asthma. The test is simple and quick to perform and only requires gentle breathing. FeNO is a valuable tool to assist in a diagnosis of asthma.

MANNITOL CHALLENGE TEST

This is the most modern test of bronchial reactivity which is less prone to false negative results than other traditional bronchial challenge tests. Bronchial provocation tests are commonly performed to assist with the diagnosis and treatment of asthma.

6 MINUTE WALK TEST

In this test you will be asked to walk as far as you can in six minutes and your oxygen saturations will be recorded. You will also be asked questions about your breathlessness and tiredness.

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