A 49-year-old member asked:
What can trigger an inaccurate pulmonary function test?
2 doctor answers • 7 doctors weighed in
Dr. Keith Diazanswered
19 years experience
PFT: This test can be highly variable. The quality of the test can depend on several things. The patient performing the test has to really give it a good effort. Many times this is also dependent on the person administering the test, who must be a good instructor. Also the equipment must be calibrated, and functioning well, no air leaks and also the type of equipment may allow for some variability
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Duane Gelsanswered
Allergy and Immunology 39 years experience
Commonly poor effort: Pulmonary tests are dependent on the effort of the patient. Without a deep breath and a forceful, sustained blow, the test results are inaccurate. Also use of bronchodilators prior to the test will falsely improve those with obstruction. PFT's require an experienced examiner and a graphic depiction with which to gauge the accuracy of the effort.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Similar questions
A 42-year-old member asked:
Pulmonary function test results, what to do?
2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in
Dr. Ed Friedlanderanswered
Pathology 46 years experience
What's the question?: As much as we'd like to, nobody here can advise you without our knowing what's troubling you, what your symptoms and signs are, and what you've been told. Pulmonary function tests are of limited value even in arriving at a clinical diagnosis, let alone as a guide to treatment.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:
What exactly is a pulmonary function test?
2 doctor answers • 8 doctors weighed in
Dr. Sue Ferrantianswered
Internal Medicine 31 years experience
PFT...: Pulmonary function tests are tests that measure your respiratory functioning. They will show if you have obstructive or restrictive lung disease as well as give information about the size of your lungs and how gases (oxygen, carbon dioxide) are exchanged. It will also show if the disease present is reversible with medicines, like bronchodilators. They are administered by a respiratory therapist.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
What is invovled in a pulmonary function test?
2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in
Dr. Gary Mossanswered
31 years experience
Test for asthma: It involves blowing into a tube which is connected to a computer. It measures a number of variables of airflow. Often, after getting a baseline, we give the patient an asthma medication called "albuterol, " and repeat the test. The results are used to diagnose asthma and emphysema, among other diseases.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
What is a pulmonary function test?
2 doctor answers • 7 doctors weighed in
Dr. Jason Adleranswered
Pediatric Critical Care 26 years experience
Pulmonary function: Pulmonary function testing generally requires a person to sit in a booth and breathe through a mouthpiece. A machine analyzes the flow and volume of air moving trough the lungs. The procedure is benign and not painful.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Jun 26, 2017
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