Pulmonary Function Test (PFT) Instructions

Pulmonary Function Tests (AKA Spirometry) measure how well your lungs work. They check:

• How much air your lungs can hold

• How quickly you can move air in and out

These tests help diagnose conditions such as Asthma and COPD, assess the severity of lung problems, and monitor how well treatments are working.

Before Your Test

Asthma Inhalers

• Only on the day of testing (if you can safely avoid it), do not take your asthma inhaler that contains one or a combination of the following (examples: Albuterol, Advair, Breo, Breztri, Combivent, Dulera, Formoterol, Indacaterol, Salmeterol, Tiotropium, Umeclidinium, Vilanterol, Spiriva, Symbicort, Trelegy, Ventolin, Wixela, etc.)

• If you need your inhaler on the day of testing, do not skip it. The test will not be performed if you are symptomatic, and holding your inhaler could make your asthma worse.

• The following inhalers are OK to take on the day of PFT: Alvesco, Asmanex, Arnuity, Flovent, Pulmicort, QVAR.

PFT & Allergy Testing

• If you are scheduled for allergy testing as well, you will be asked to stop antihistamines for 4 days before the allergy test.

• You only need to hold your asthma inhaler on the day of the PFT (not for 4 days).

Illness or Symptoms

• If you are having an asthma attack, breathing problems, are ill, or are taking antibiotics on the day of the test, please notify our staff before the test.

Exercise

• Avoid heavy exercise for 2 hours before and after your PFT