What is Spirometry?
Spirometry (lung function) is a series of simple, non-invasive test that measures how well your lungs are working. This test is commonly used to assess conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and other breathing problems. It can also help assess how well your current treatment is working.
Pre and Post Bronchodilator
We measure your lung function both before and after giving you a bronchodilator, a fast acting asthma medication such as Ventolin or Bricanyl. We measure the difference between each test phase, to determine serverity of asthma as well as general lung health.
FeNO
You take a deep breath in, then blow out gently in a controlled manner into the mouthpiece of a machine. This test measure the Fraction of exhaled Nitric Oxide in your lungs, and we use this reading to determine how inflamed your lung are.
DLCO
Diffusion capacity of the Lungs for the transfer of Carbon Monoxide is a test measuring how well your lungs can absorb oxygen into your bloodstream. It is measured by breathing in a small amount of inert gas, holding your breath and then blowing out; we read how much of the gas is left upon exhaling.
Bronchoprovocation
While some tests can be inconclusive about the status of a person’s asthma, the Bronchoprovocation (Mannitol Challenge) is considered the definitive asthma test. We repeatedly measure your lung function while having patients inhaled a steadily increasing dose of powdered mannitol to irritate the airways, and measure the difference between each trial.
