Respiratory Tests

• Diffusing Capacity of the Lung for Carbon Monoxide (DLCO)
• Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO)
• Full Pulmonary Function test
• Spirometry

The Diffusing Capacity of the Lung for Carbon Monoxide (DLCO) measures how effectively oxygen transfers from the lungs to the bloodstream, providing insight into the integrity of the alveolar-capillary membrane and pulmonary blood flow.

It’s assessed by having the patient inhale a small, known concentration of carbon monoxide and measuring its uptake during a breath-hold.

Reduced DLCO values can indicate conditions such as interstitial lung disease, emphysema, pulmonary vascular disease, or anemia, while normal or elevated values are seen in some restrictive diseases without vascular involvement.

A Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide(FeNO) assessment measures nitric oxide in the breath, indicating airway inflammation levels. It helps support the diagnosis of asthma and other respiratory diseases. FeNO assessments are often used alongside spirometry to diagnose lung conditions like Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) or asthma.

A Full Pulmonary Function Test (PFT) is a comprehensive evaluation of lung function by measuring lung volumes, capacities, flow rates, and gas exchange.

It typically includes a spirometry, lung volume measurement, and diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide(DLCO), providing detailed information on both ventilatory mechanics and gas transfer efficiency.

This allows clinicians to differentiate between obstructive, restrictive, and mixed patterns of lung disease, assess severity, and evaluate conditions affecting the alveolar-capillary membrane or pulmonary vasculature. Full PFTs are essential in complex or unclear cases, preoperative assessment, and monitoring progressive or interstitial lung diseases.

Spirometry is a fundamental pulmonary function test that measures the volume and flow of air during inhalation and exhalation to assess lung function.

It helps diagnose common respiratory conditions like asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease(COPD) by looking at key values such as FEV₁, FVC, and their ratio—where a low ratio suggests obstruction, and a low FVC with a normal ratio points to possible restriction.

Very rarely, spirometry can cause breathing problems. These are easily treated with an inhaled bronchodilator to open the airways. This test should not be performed if there is a history of angina, a recent history of surgery, eye injuries or serious heart disease.

All respiratory tests reports are reviewed by a respiratory physician and signed-off by a New Zealand based clinical specialist.

Finalised Respiratory test reports are available in BeatBox (our cloud-based reporting platform). As BeatBox is browser-based, reports can be easily and securely accessed from any device, with no need for software, apps or mobile network coverage.