What happens during Pulmonary Function Test (PFT)?

Different types of PFT exist. According to your doctor, you may have to undergo one or more of these tests depending on the health condition they are trying to diagnose. They are: Spirometry Pulse oximetry test Plethysmography test Exhaled nitric oxide test Diffusion capacity test Exhaled nitric oxide test Bronchial provocation test Cardiopulmonary exercise test

What is a normal PFT score?

Children ages 5 to 18: Percentage of predicted value of FVC Result 80% or greater normal less than 80% abnormal Adults FVC Result is greater than or equal to the lower limit of normal Normal is less than the lower limit of normal Abnormal

What tests should be done for shortness of breath?

Blood test Oxygen test Chest X-ray Lung Function test Electrocardiography (EKG) Conclusion Book an appointment here at Yashoda Hospitals! Get a free second opinion for all your health concerns.

Yashoda Hospitals > Diagnostics > PFT

What is a Pulmonary Function Test (PFT)?

A Pulmonary Function Test (PFT) measures how well the lungs are working. Certain lung disorders can be diagnosed and treated with the help of this information. During the tests, lung volume, capacity, and flow rates are measured. It is an invasive procedure, which means, a doctor doesn’t cut you or insert any instruments.

When a patient has a suspected or previously diagnosed respiratory disease, pulmonary function tests are valuable investigations. Diagnoses, monitoring responses to treatments, and making decisions on further treatment and intervention can be aided by them. Understanding respiratory physiology is necessary to interpret pulmonary function tests. While symptoms do not provide a diagnosis per se, different patterns of abnormalities can be seen in various respiratory diseases which may help to establish a diagnosis.

What is the Pulmonary Function Test (PFT) used for?

Assess patients before surgery
Monitoring lung disease progression
Follow up on the efficacy of the treatment
If your symptoms indicate a lung condition
To assess your lung function before surgery
Check for possible toxic side effects of certain drugs (such as amiodarone, an antiarrhythmic)
Monitoring chronic lung diseases, such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Examine respiratory symptoms (e.g. wheezing, cyanosis, dyspnea) for evidence of respiratory disease.

Understanding the test results of the Pulmonary Function Test (PFT)

SPIROMETRY TEST

NORMAL

ABNORMAL

FVC and FEV1

Equal to or greater than 80%

Mild = 70-79%

Moderate = 60-69%

Severe – Less than 60%

FEV1/FVC

Equal to or greater than 70%

Mild = 60-69%

Moderate = 50-59%

Severe – Less than 50%

FVC – Forced Vital Capacity (Volume of air exhaled after maximum inhalation)

FEV1 – Forced expiratory volume in one second (Volume of air exhaled in one breath)

Why do I need a Pulmonary Function Test (PFT)?

History of asthma
Infections of the respiratory system
Inhaling asbestos fibers at workplace causing asbestosis, a lung disease
An injury to the chest or a recent surgery that causes trouble breathing
Lung conditions like bronchiectasis, emphysema, or chronic bronchitis
Scleroderma makes the connective tissue thicken and harden
Airway restriction due to scoliosis, tumors, or inflammation or scarring of the lungs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Different types of PFT exist. According to your doctor, you may have to undergo one or more of these tests depending on the health condition they are trying to diagnose.

They are:

Spirometry
Pulse oximetry test
Plethysmography test
Exhaled nitric oxide test
Diffusion capacity test
Exhaled nitric oxide test
Bronchial provocation test
Cardiopulmonary exercise test

Children ages 5 to 18:

Percentage of predicted value of FVC	Result
80% or greater	normal
less than 80%	abnormal

Adults

FVC	Result
is greater than or equal to the lower limit of normal	Normal
is less than the lower limit of normal	Abnormal

To understand this, imagine a glass of water. When the glass is full to the brim, it is 100% full. When it is half full, it is 50% full. 33% means it is only one-third full, etc. An FEV1 of 50% means that your lungs are capable of handling half as much air as they should. Your lungs can handle even less if your FEV1 is 33% - only one-third as much. Your lungs can handle less air if your FEV1 percentage is lower.

Spirometry is one of the most common types of lung function tests. The test measures how much and how quickly air can flow into and out of your lungs. Diagnosis of asthma and COPD can be made with the help of spirometry. As a result, it measures how fast you can exhale all the air after taking a deep breath and how much air you can exhale.

An abnormal result usually indicates lung or chest disease. The lungs may contain too much air due to certain lung diseases (such as emphysema, asthma, chronic bronchitis, and infections).