Breathing Tests

For our patients’ convenience, we have established Pulmonary Function Laboratories in 7 of our 9 office locations. During your initial visit or in subsequent care, the physicians may order breathings tests to help in diagnosis of your condition.

Pulmonary Function Tests

Pulmonary Function Tests are a valuable diagnostic tool in assessing different forms of lung disorders. This test has also proven extremely useful in evaluating the effectiveness of medications in patients with lung problems. This breathing test is a non-invasive procedure that does not require use of needles, nor is any blood drawn.
In The Asthma Center laboratory, our pulmonary function laboratory specialist will instruct you on the performance of various breathing maneuvers designed to measure a variety of lung functions. The results obtained from this breathing test are dependent on you or your child's full cooperation. Our laboratory staff will encourage you to give your best efforts throughout the test. Your doctor will review the results of this test with you on your next office visit. The complete pulmonary function test will take approximately one hour.
In order to obtain the most accurate test results possible, we ask that you follow the below guidelines.

1.		Withhold any of the following for 8 hours: Accolate, Advair, albuterol, Alupent, Atrovent, Brethaire, Brethine, Combivent, DuoNeb, Foradil, formoterol, ipratropium, Maxair, metaproterenol, Proventil, salmeterol, Serevent, Singulair, tiotropium, Ventolin, Volmax and Xopenex.
2.		Unless your doctor has given you other specific medicine restrictions, all other medications may be taken.
3.		Avoid smoking for at least 6 hours prior to testing.
4.		Avoid ingestion of caffeine (coffee, tea, colas, or chocolate drinks) and alcohol the morning of your appointment. You may eat or drink any other foods, in moderation, before your testing procedure.
5.		If withholding any medications causes you to have difficulty in breathing, please discuss this with your physician as soon as possible.

Methacholine Bronchoprovocation Challenge

A methacholine bronchoprovocation challenge is a test to assess hyperreactivity of the airways. This test will help confirm the presence of or absence of clinical asthmatic responses. This breathing test is a non-invasive procedure that does not require use of needles, nor is any blood drawn.

In The Asthma Center laboratory, our pulmonary function laboratory specialist will instruct you on the performance of various breathing maneuvers designed to measure a variety of lung functions. The methacholine bronchoprovocation challenge is performed by the inhalation of gradually increasing doses of a medicine (methacholine) which will produce a fall in pulmonary function in a person with hyperactive airways. The results obtained from this breathing test are dependent on you or your child's full cooperation. Our laboratory staff will encourage you to give your best efforts throughout the test. Your doctor will review the results of this test with you on your next office visit.

This test should not be done if you have had a recent heart attack or stroke within the past 3 months, if you have uncontrolled hypertension, or if you have a history of aortic aneurysm. Please let the physician or pulmonary technician know if you have one of these conditions. Pregnant or nursing women may get this test only under certain conditions.

The methacholine challenge does not cause an asthma attack but short-lived symptoms including wheeze, cough, shortness of breath and/or chest tightness may occur. However, many patients experience no symptoms at all. If symptoms occur, they will usually be completely reversed by therapeutic bronchodilator nebulizer treatment. Delayed or prolonged responses to methacholine are rare.
The methacholine bronchoprovocation challenge will take approximately one hour. Please follow the below guidelines as they pertain to you:

1.		Withhold any of the following for 8 hours: albuterol, Alupent, Brethaire, Brethine, cromolyn, DuoNeb, Intal, Maxair, metaproterenol, Proventil, Ventolin and Xopenex.
2.		Withhold any of the following for 24 hours: Accolate, Advair, Astelin, Atrovent, Combivent, Foradil, formoterol, ipratropium, salmeterol, Serevent, Singulair, tiotropium and Volmax.
3.		Withhold any of the following for 48 hours: nedocromil, theophylline (Uniphyl, Uni-Dur) and Tilade.
4.		Withhold all antihistamines for 72 hours:_________________.
5.		Unless your doctor has given you other specific medicine restrictions, all other medications may be taken. (Specifically, you may continue corticosteroids or nasal sprays except for Astelin nasal spray.)
6.		Avoid significant exercise or exposure to cold air for at least 2 hours prior to testing.
7.		Avoid smoking for at least 6 hours prior to testing.
8.		Avoid ingestion of caffeine (coffee, tea, colas, or chocolate drinks) and alcohol at least 6 hours prior to testing. You may eat or drink any other foods, in moderation, before your testing procedure.
9.		If withholding any medications causes you to have difficulty in breathing, please discuss this with your physician as soon as possible.
10.		Due to the nature of this test, we request that family members, except for a parent, not be present in the PFT lab