Tests

Our clinic offers a range of diagnostic tests to assess and monitor respiratory and sleep conditions.

Assessment and Monitoring

These tests provide valuable insights into your lung function, airway responsiveness, and overall respiratory health. By understanding the specifics of each test, you can better prepare for your appointments and ensure the most accurate results to guide your treatment plan.

Spirometry

This is a test to measure the size of the airways in your lungs. The test measures how fast you can blow out with maximal effort. If there is narrowing in the airways, the air comes out more slowly. Often the test is repeated after using salbutamol (Ventolin) to see if any narrowing is reversible. It is a test that is useful for airway diseases such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Comprehensive lung function

This test comprises three parts:

Spirometry

As mentioned above, spirometry is a fundamental test used to measure how well your lungs are functioning by assessing the volume and speed of air you can exhale. The process is straightforward, requiring you to blow forcefully into a tube, with the results giving a detailed picture of your lung capacity and airflow. This test helps in diagnosing various lung conditions, such as asthma, COPD and other breathing disorders.
Lung volumes

Lung sizes vary, being reduced in lung fibrosis or abnormally enlarged in COPD. Lung volumes can be measured in one of two ways: One way is to sit in an airtight box while breathing in and out through a mouthpiece. The change in the lung volumes during inspiration and expiration alters the pressure in the box, so the lung volume can be measured. The other way is to inhale a mixture of helium and oxygen and use the change in the concentration of helium to measure lung capacity.
Gas transfer

This measures the function of the membrane over which oxygen and carbon dioxide cross to get into and out of the blood. This membrane is damaged in emphysema and fibrosis. The test is done by inhaling air containing very small amounts of helium and carbon monoxide. The change in the concentration of these gases allows us to calculate how the membrane is working.

Bronchial provocation test

This test is used to show if there is any irritability in the airways that can cause narrowing. The test involves breathing in increasing concentrations of an airway irritant (usually mannitol) and doing a spirometry manoeuvre after each inhalation. The test is continued until either at least a 15% decrease in lung function or the maximum dose is reached. At the end of the test, salbutamol is given to reverse any narrowing. A drop in lung function is an indicator of asthma.

6-minute walk test

In some diseases, such as COPD, pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary fibrosis, exercise can cause oxygen levels to drop as well as causing breathlessness. The walk test is used to assess this drop and to test whether oxygen used with exercise is beneficial.

Take Control of Your Respiratory and Sleep Health Today

With years of experience in treating a wide range of respiratory and sleep disorders, Dr Claxton is here to help you breathe easier and sleep better.

Contact us today to schedule an appointment and start your journey towards better health.