Lung Function Testing with Reversibility

North Warwickshire Community Diagnostic Centre

Tel: 024 7686 5128

Why? –  You have been invited for a lung function test at the request of your doctor to help them diagnose, monitor and formulate a treatment plan.

What? – A lung function test measures how efficiently your lungs are working. The test may:

• Detect lung diseases.
• Measure the severity of your respiratory condition.
• Outline your response to forms of treatment.
• Form part of a pre-operative assessment.

How? – While seated, you will breathe through a disposable mouthpiece, with a nose clip. You will be instructed to perform various breathing techniques including deep breaths, long blows and breath holding. Each test is repeated to gain consistency in different measurements. These measurements will:

• Assess airway function
• Determine how well oxygen moves through the lungs into your blood.
• Measure the volume or amount of air contained within your lungs
• Measure the level of oxygen in the blood. (Please refrain from or remove nail polish on the ring and index finger.)

Preparation – To ensure testing is safe, effective and can be performed please refrain from the following:

• Do NOT eat a large meal for two hours prior to testing
• Do NOT consume alcohol for 4 hours prior to testing or arrive intoxicated.
• Do NOT engage in vigorous exercise for 30 minutes prior to testing.
• Do NOT wear restrictive clothing that may limit your ability to breath such as a corset.
• Do NOT smoke for at least an hour

Please bring a list of medication with you and your GTN (Angina) spray if you are prescribed one.

If you use inhalers or a nebuliser, we ask that you please refrain from using them. The table below details the inhaler/nebuliser name and the required amount of time that you should not use it before your test.

If your inhaler/nebuliser is not listed in the above table, please contact the department to confirm if you need to withhold it.

If you become exceptionally breathless, you may take your inhalers however please inform the person performing your test.

Please contact the department if you have experienced any of the following medical conditions as they may impact the accuracy of safety of your testing:

• Suffered a heart attack or stroke within the last 4-6 weeks.
• Recent surgery including on the eyes. (Cataracts)
• If you've attended A&E within the last 2-3 days due to a medical emergency.
• Chest pain before the day of testing.
• If you cough blood.
• If you have an active or recent (within 4-6 weeks) chest infection.

Depending on the depth of testing your appointment may take between 45-90 minutes.

Results will not be provided by the respiratory physiology team, these will be provided by your doctor.

Due to the fluctuating and variable demands placed on our department we are unable to provide an accurate estimate for how long it may take for you to receive your results, however they will be actioned as soon as possible.

George Eliot Hospital is a smoke free environment. For help and advice to stop smoking you can call the national helpline on 0300 123 1044 or visit https://fitterfutures.everyonehealth.co.uk/stop-smoking-service/ ​​​​​​. You can also call the local telephone number for the Warwickshire service on 0333 005 0092 or Coventry service on 0800 112 3780.

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