Pulmonary function tests (PFT's) are used for pre-operative patient evaluation, and for follow-up monitoring of patients with known history of pulmonary disease.

PFTs are often used for investigating/quantifying pulmonary disability caused by various respiratory disorders -including those caused by occupational exposure to harmful substances.

Pulmonary Function Tests not only help establish efficacy of respiratory system, they also help diagnose a host of respiratory disorders including asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, COPD, as well as various interstitial lung diseases.

Periodic Lung function tests are often ordered to closely follow-up, monitor and evaluate effectiveness of various drug treatment therapies, pulmonary surgeries, as well as for better understanding of the extent of the spread and staging of various pulmonary diseases.

Spirometry:

The amount of air inhaled and exhaled during a specified period of time is measured using an instrument called Spirometer. The test requires the person to breath into a mouthpiece connected to a spirometer. Some of the tests are performed at different breathing levels to determine normal breathing capacity, and quiet or resting breathing capacity. The amount of air inhaled and exhaled during a set of deep-breathing cycles is also usually evaluated.

Spirometry tests are relatively easy to administer and are standardized enough to allow immediate, in-house interpretation of the test results. Considering that Spirometer is now avaiable as a portable diagnostic device, many outreach clinics in remote/rural areas and industrial health centers now offer on-site spirometry tests.

Lung Volume Measurement:

The most accurate way of measuring a person's lung volume involves making use of a body plethysmograph - a completely sealed, air-tight, transparent enclosure fitted with a sensitive air-pressure sensor/pressure-transducer. While sitting in this (body plethysmograph) enclosure that looks quite similar to a telephone booth, the patient is asked to breathe in and breathe out into a mouthpiece. As the person inhales the air inside this close environment, it's air pressure drops, and as the person exhales, the air pressure inside the enclosure rises. Air-pressure changes so recorded are used for arriving at an accurate determination of the lung volume. Another way to measure a person's Lung volume is to have the subject breathe Nitrogen or Helium gas over a predetermined duration of time. Lung volume is then calculated based on the changes in the gas (Nitrogen or Helium) concentration levels within the sealed chamber to which the breathing-tube is connected.

Diffusion Capacity Measurement:

Diffusion Capacity is established by calculating the amount of gas (carbon monoxide) a person inhales and exhales during a short duration of time. As the person exhales after breathing in carbon monoxide for a very short time, the concentration of carbon monoxide in the exhaled air is measured. The Diffusion Capacity is then calculated based on the difference in the amount of carbon monoxide inhaled and the concentration of carbon monoxide exhaled.

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