What should you know about a PASCO spirometer?

The device records airflow as you breathe into a mouthpiece. A clinician may use the readings to assess narrowed airways, changes in breathing, or how well treatment is working. The test may include a full breath in followed by a forceful, complete breath out. Good effort and a firm seal around the mouthpiece help produce useful results, but the clinician may repeat the manoeuvre because technique affects the recording.

Follow the testing centre's instructions about inhalers, smoking, meals, and exercise before the appointment; do not stop a prescribed inhaler unless the clinician tells you to. Wear comfortable clothing and tell the tester about chest pain, recent surgery, an infection, or dizziness. During the test, sit or stand as directed, keep the mouthpiece between your teeth, and follow each breathing instruction closely. More detail is available in the Spirometer and Spirometry guides.

Spirometry can briefly cause coughing, breathlessness, light-headedness, or chest tightness. Tell the clinician straight away if these occur. Seek urgent medical help for severe or persistent breathing difficulty, blue or grey lips, fainting, or chest pain that does not settle. A test result should be interpreted with your symptoms and examination rather than used alone to diagnose a condition.

Ask what each measurement means, whether you should use your usual inhaler beforehand, and when you will receive the report. You can also ask what the next step is if the result is outside the expected range.