Spirometry

The term spirometry refers to the fundamental lung function tests that measure the amount of air that is exhaled and inhaled. Volume, time, and flow are the three main connected measures. Spirometry is a noninvasive, objective, sensitive to early change, and repeatable test. It can be done practically anywhere now that portable meters are available, and it can be done by anyone with the correct training. It's used to check for the existence or absence of lung disease, quantify lung damage, track the impacts of occupational/environmental exposures, and figure out how drugs work. The equipment used for spirometry must be calibrated before usage, or at the very least the calibration must be confirmed before the start of the session. Prior to performing spirometry, the patient's identity should be verified, their height without shoes or boots and weight measured (if scales are available; this is not used in prediction equations but is useful to know, as volume may be limited in obese patients), and their age, sex, and race recorded. If the patient is unable to stand, an estimate of their height can be made using their arm spread. Between patients, hands must be cleansed. Bacterial–viral filters should be utilized for all patients and discarded by the patient when testing is completed. If an infected patient requires testing, it should be done at the end of the session, and the equipment should be stripped down and sterilised/parts changed before being used again (depending on what is being used).