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Lung Function Testing

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What to expect during Lung Function Testing:

 

Testing is short, simple, and commonly used. Overall, it takes 30-45 mins to complete the test.

 

Soft clips are placed on your nose, and you breath through a mouthpiece.  You will be asked to take a deep breath in and blow out as hard and fast as you can.  Salbutamol is then given to see if your lung function improves with this medicine. 

 

During the second test you will need to breathe in a test-gas and hold your breath for 10 seconds.  During the last test you will need to maintain a slow constant breath out for 10 seconds.

 

You feel no pain during the test.  Each tests will be repeated at least three times to make sure the results are accurate.

 

Sometimes you may cough, feel light headed or have chest discomfort as a result of forcefully blowing into the tube.  Please let our scientist know if you are feeling unwell.

  • Inhaler Technique Videos
    https://www.nationalasthma.org.au/living-with-asthma/how-to-videos https://lungfoundation.com.au/resources/?search=inhaler%20fact%20sheet
  • Exercise and Pulmonary Rehabilitation
    https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-procedures-and-tests/pulmonary-rehab https://lungfoundation.com.au/patients-carers/support-services/lung-disease-and-exercise/ https://functionallungs.com/
  • Quitting Smoking
    https://www.icanquit.com.au/ https://www.quit.org.au/
  • COPD
    https://lungfoundation.com.au/patients-carers/living-with-a-lung-disease/copd/overview/ https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/copd
  • Pulmonary Fibrosis
    https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/interstitial-lung-disease https://lungfoundation.com.au/patients-carers/living-with-a-lung-disease/copd/overview/ https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/pulmonary-fibrosis https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/hypersensitivity-pneumonitis
  • Respiratory Viruses
    https://lungfoundation.com.au/patients-carers/living-with-a-lung-disease/other-lung-conditions/the-common-cold/ https://lungfoundation.com.au/patients-carers/living-with-a-lung-disease/other-lung-conditions/influenza/
  • Bronchiectasis
    https://lungfoundation.com.au/patients-carers/conditions/bronchiectasis/overview/ https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/bronchiectasis
  • Asthma
    http://nationalasthma.org.au/ https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/asthma
  • Lung Cancer
    https://lungfoundation.com.au/patients-carers/conditions/lung-cancer/overview/ https://www.cancercouncil.com.au/lung-cancer/ https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/lung-cancer https://lungfoundation.com.au/resources/?search=mesothelioma&user_category=31&condition=14
  • Pneumonia
    https://lungfoundation.com.au/patients-carers/living-with-a-lung-disease/other-lung-conditions/pneumonia/ https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/pneumonia https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/mac-lung-disease https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/nontuberculous-mycobacteria https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/tuberculosis
  • Lung Transplant
    https://lungfoundation.com.au/resources/lung-transplantation-fact-sheet/ https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-procedures-and-tests/lung-transplant
  • Wear loose fitting, comfortable clothing
    This allows you to be comfortable and at ease with no restraints.
  • 6 hours before your test: Withold any short acting inhalers (if able). These include:
    Salbutamol: Ventolin, Asmol, Airomir, Zempreon Terbutaline: Bricanyl, Ipratropium: Atrovent,
  • Please tell us if you have any of the following problems, as we may need to delay your test:
    Cardiac / Heart problems:  Heart Attack within the last 7 days  Pulmonary embolism within the last 7 days  History of passing out when coughing Neurological / Brain problems  Known Cerebral aneurysm, untreated  Brain Surgery within the last 30 days  Eye Surgery within the last 7 days  Recent concussion with ongoing symptoms Chest or Abdominal surgeries  Known collapsed lung / pneumothorax in the last 30 days  Chest / Thoracic surgery within the last 30 days  Abdominal surgery within the last 30 days  Fever within the last 7 days
  • 36 Hours before your test (New patients only): Withhold all long acting inhalers (if able). These include:
    Flixotide, Pulmicort, Arnuity, Alvesco, QVAR, Seretide, Symbicort, Cipla, Flutiform, DuoResp, Breo, Fostair, Spiriva, Bretaris, Seebri, Incruse, Onbrez, Serevent, Oxis Spiolto, Ultibro, Brimica, Anoro, Trelegy, Trimbow, Enerzair To find your inhaler, have a look at this poster
  • 2 hours before your test: Do not drink coffee, exercise, smoke, or eat any of the following
    Vegetables Spinach Lettuce Beetroot Celery Chervil Radish Turnips Fruits Strawberries Currants Raspberries Cherries Gooseberries Processed Meats Ham Bacon Salami Smoked chicken Pastrami Other Alcohol Caffeine Cigarettes Exercise
  • 6-minute walk test
    Walk as fast as you can over a 6 minute period up and down our corridor. The objective is to walk as far as possible. Your level of breathlessness, heart rate, oxygen levels, respiratory rate and distance are monitored before, during and after the test. ...more information
  • Asthma challenge test (Bronchoprovocation)
    This test is used to help diagnose asthma where other tests may not have been able to detect it. It takes up to an hour to perform. Under controlled conditions, we try to induce a mild asthma attack. Baseline spirometry is performed, and then a low dose of inhaled agent (Mannitol) is administered. The dose of mannitol slowly increases with each inhalation. Spirometry is repeated between each administered dose to assess response. The test stops at the first sign of asthma like reactions, and salbutamol (Ventolin) is given to reverse any asthma response. ...more information
  • Fractional Concentration of Exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO)
    This involves blowing slow and steady into a mouthpiece. It measures allergic type inflammation within your airways, and suggests responsiveness to an inhaled steroid medication. ...more information
  • Spirometry
    This involves blowing into a tube and measuring the strength and volume of your exhaled and inspired breath. An inhaled medication (salbutamol) is then given to see if your breathing improves. ...more information from the American Lung Association ...more information from the Lung Foundation Australia
  • Respiratory Muscle Strength Testing
    This test involves breathing in and out as strong as you can against a closed mouth piece. The strength of your effort is then calculated.
  • Gas Diffusion studies
    A small fingerprick sample of blood is taken beforehand to measure your haemoglobin level. You then take a deep breath of a respiratory-gas mix, holding your breath for 10seconds, and exhaling steadily into a mouthpiece. It measures the total volume of your lungs and how well your lungs absorb gases from the atmosphere into your blood.
  • Bronchoscopy and EBUS
    https://lungfoundation.com.au/resources/bronchoscopy-fact-sheet/ https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-procedures-and-tests/bronchoscopy https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-procedures-and-tests/endobronchial-ultrasound-ebus
  • Pleural (Chest) Drain
    https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-procedures-and-tests/chest-tube-procedure
  • CT-Guided Lung Biopsy
    https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-procedures-and-tests/ct-scan-guided-lung-biopsy
  • Lung Resection
    https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-procedures-and-tests/lobectomy
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We perform a wide array of tests at Bondi Respiratory and Sleep
to tailor and monitor your treatment.  These may include:

  • Inhaler Technique Videos
    https://www.nationalasthma.org.au/living-with-asthma/how-to-videos https://lungfoundation.com.au/resources/?search=inhaler%20fact%20sheet
  • Exercise and Pulmonary Rehabilitation
    https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-procedures-and-tests/pulmonary-rehab https://lungfoundation.com.au/patients-carers/support-services/lung-disease-and-exercise/ https://functionallungs.com/
  • Quitting Smoking
    https://www.icanquit.com.au/ https://www.quit.org.au/
  • COPD
    https://lungfoundation.com.au/patients-carers/living-with-a-lung-disease/copd/overview/ https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/copd
  • Pulmonary Fibrosis
    https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/interstitial-lung-disease https://lungfoundation.com.au/patients-carers/living-with-a-lung-disease/copd/overview/ https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/pulmonary-fibrosis https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/hypersensitivity-pneumonitis
  • Respiratory Viruses
    https://lungfoundation.com.au/patients-carers/living-with-a-lung-disease/other-lung-conditions/the-common-cold/ https://lungfoundation.com.au/patients-carers/living-with-a-lung-disease/other-lung-conditions/influenza/
  • Bronchiectasis
    https://lungfoundation.com.au/patients-carers/conditions/bronchiectasis/overview/ https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/bronchiectasis
  • Asthma
    http://nationalasthma.org.au/ https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/asthma
  • Lung Cancer
    https://lungfoundation.com.au/patients-carers/conditions/lung-cancer/overview/ https://www.cancercouncil.com.au/lung-cancer/ https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/lung-cancer https://lungfoundation.com.au/resources/?search=mesothelioma&user_category=31&condition=14
  • Pneumonia
    https://lungfoundation.com.au/patients-carers/living-with-a-lung-disease/other-lung-conditions/pneumonia/ https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/pneumonia https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/mac-lung-disease https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/nontuberculous-mycobacteria https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/tuberculosis
  • Lung Transplant
    https://lungfoundation.com.au/resources/lung-transplantation-fact-sheet/ https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-procedures-and-tests/lung-transplant
  • Wear loose fitting, comfortable clothing
    This allows you to be comfortable and at ease with no restraints.
  • 6 hours before your test: Withold any short acting inhalers (if able). These include:
    Salbutamol: Ventolin, Asmol, Airomir, Zempreon Terbutaline: Bricanyl, Ipratropium: Atrovent,
  • Please tell us if you have any of the following problems, as we may need to delay your test:
    Cardiac / Heart problems:  Heart Attack within the last 7 days  Pulmonary embolism within the last 7 days  History of passing out when coughing Neurological / Brain problems  Known Cerebral aneurysm, untreated  Brain Surgery within the last 30 days  Eye Surgery within the last 7 days  Recent concussion with ongoing symptoms Chest or Abdominal surgeries  Known collapsed lung / pneumothorax in the last 30 days  Chest / Thoracic surgery within the last 30 days  Abdominal surgery within the last 30 days  Fever within the last 7 days
  • 36 Hours before your test (New patients only): Withhold all long acting inhalers (if able). These include:
    Flixotide, Pulmicort, Arnuity, Alvesco, QVAR, Seretide, Symbicort, Cipla, Flutiform, DuoResp, Breo, Fostair, Spiriva, Bretaris, Seebri, Incruse, Onbrez, Serevent, Oxis Spiolto, Ultibro, Brimica, Anoro, Trelegy, Trimbow, Enerzair To find your inhaler, have a look at this poster
  • 2 hours before your test: Do not drink coffee, exercise, smoke, or eat any of the following
    Vegetables Spinach Lettuce Beetroot Celery Chervil Radish Turnips Fruits Strawberries Currants Raspberries Cherries Gooseberries Processed Meats Ham Bacon Salami Smoked chicken Pastrami Other Alcohol Caffeine Cigarettes Exercise
  • 6-minute walk test
    Walk as fast as you can over a 6 minute period up and down our corridor. The objective is to walk as far as possible. Your level of breathlessness, heart rate, oxygen levels, respiratory rate and distance are monitored before, during and after the test. ...more information
  • Asthma challenge test (Bronchoprovocation)
    This test is used to help diagnose asthma where other tests may not have been able to detect it. It takes up to an hour to perform. Under controlled conditions, we try to induce a mild asthma attack. Baseline spirometry is performed, and then a low dose of inhaled agent (Mannitol) is administered. The dose of mannitol slowly increases with each inhalation. Spirometry is repeated between each administered dose to assess response. The test stops at the first sign of asthma like reactions, and salbutamol (Ventolin) is given to reverse any asthma response. ...more information
  • Fractional Concentration of Exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO)
    This involves blowing slow and steady into a mouthpiece. It measures allergic type inflammation within your airways, and suggests responsiveness to an inhaled steroid medication. ...more information
  • Spirometry
    This involves blowing into a tube and measuring the strength and volume of your exhaled and inspired breath. An inhaled medication (salbutamol) is then given to see if your breathing improves. ...more information from the American Lung Association ...more information from the Lung Foundation Australia
  • Respiratory Muscle Strength Testing
    This test involves breathing in and out as strong as you can against a closed mouth piece. The strength of your effort is then calculated.
  • Gas Diffusion studies
    A small fingerprick sample of blood is taken beforehand to measure your haemoglobin level. You then take a deep breath of a respiratory-gas mix, holding your breath for 10seconds, and exhaling steadily into a mouthpiece. It measures the total volume of your lungs and how well your lungs absorb gases from the atmosphere into your blood.
  • Bronchoscopy and EBUS
    https://lungfoundation.com.au/resources/bronchoscopy-fact-sheet/ https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-procedures-and-tests/bronchoscopy https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-procedures-and-tests/endobronchial-ultrasound-ebus
  • Pleural (Chest) Drain
    https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-procedures-and-tests/chest-tube-procedure
  • CT-Guided Lung Biopsy
    https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-procedures-and-tests/ct-scan-guided-lung-biopsy
  • Lung Resection
    https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-procedures-and-tests/lobectomy
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