Spirometry

A spirometry test is used to diagnose asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It identifies how much air you can breathe into your lungs and how much air you can quickly blow out of your lungs. Spirometry is one of several pulmonary function test.

Spirometry is provided by the Respiratory Therapy Program.

How to access our services?

You must have a referral from your physician to get an appointment and pass this test.

About The Program

What to bring

  • Valid Health card
  • List of all your medications, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, supplements and herbal medicines

When you arrive

  • Please report to the admission desk 30 minutes before your scheduled appointment.
  • After registering, a clerk will indicate where to go for your test.

Preparation and procedure

  • If possible, do not use your inhaler of take medications such as Ventolin or Atrovent on the day of the exam.
  • Do not smoke before the exam.
  • The technologist will ask you to exhale as deeply and for as long as you can into a tube. The machine measures the quantity and the speed at which you can exhale air from your lungs.
  • You will have to blow into the machine several times to collect sufficient data.
  • During the test, the technologist will ask you to take Ventolin, a medication that opens the airways. Data collected by the machine before and after the administration of Ventolin will be compared.
  • The test is painless, but requires some effort.

Test results

  • The internal medicine specialist will analyse the recorded data and send a written report to the referring physician within 10 working days.

The team

  • Specialist in internal medicine
  • Respiratory Therapist