If you or your doctor suspect any breathing related issues, a visit to an accredited MRG facility for pulmonary function testing (PFT) may be required. We complete testing for both adult and pediatric patients (aged 6 years and older) in Calgary.
Below is an overview of the breathing tests we provide along with a description of what you can expect.
Generally, the first step in evaluating lung health is to determine the cause of shortness of breath. Unlike a chest x-ray, which only provides a static picture of the lungs, pulmonary function tests (PFTs) provide deeper insight.
A PFT involves a multitude of tests, including Spirometry, Arterial Blood Gases and Lung Volumes. Together, these tests aid in the diagnosis of lung disease, and are considered the gold standard for COPD diagnosis.
They can be used to assess current lung function, disease severity, progression and response to treatment. Testing can also help determine if a patient has adequate respiratory function to withstand a proposed surgery.
Spirometry is a test used to measure lung function. It generally takes about 10 minutes to complete, and simply involves blowing into mouthpiece. It is considered the most reliable test for identifying COPD and asthma.
You will be asked to put on a nose clip and a mouthpiece attached to a monitor by a tube. After taking the deepest breath possible, you will be asked to blow as long and as hard as you can. You will likely repeat this three or four times. The test will measure the amount of air you can exhale, along with the rate. In some cases, you will be asked to repeat this test after using a puffer medication to see if there is a difference.
An arterial blood gas (ABG) test measures the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood, as well as acidity (pH) to find out how well the lungs are functioning. This test can determine the lungs’ ability to move oxygen into the blood and remove carbon dioxide from the blood.
An ABG test involves taking blood from an artery (unlike most blood tests, which draw a sample from a vein). The reason is that the blood in our arteries still contains oxygen, while veins transport blood that has been depleted of oxygen.
Visit your family doctor. Request a referral to Maple Respiratory Group for pulmonary function testing. If you need a Calgary Pulmonary Function Test, we are the trusted experts with over 12 years of serving Calgarians.
Download our referral form and bring this to your family doctor.
