Preparing For Your Lung Function Test

Lung function tests involve breathing into a machine which measures various aspects of breathing capacity. It does not involve any exercise.

You do not need to fast before lung function testing.

For standard lung function tests, it is recommended that inhalers be stopped before the test, if it is safe for you to do so:

  • If possible, no Ventolin, Respolin, Atrovent, Bricanyl, Asmol, Ipratrin, Airomir, should be taken for 4 hours prior to the test.
  • If possible, no Serevent, Seretide,  Oxis, Symbicort, Flutiform,  Foradile or Bretaris, should be taken for 12 hours.
  • If possible, no Spiriva, Incruse, Seebri, Spiolto, Brimica, Breo, Onbrez, Anoro, TrelegyotUltibro should be taken for 24 hours.

Before mannitol challenge tests:

  • No tea, coffee, chocolate, or caffeinated drinks or foods should be consumed on the test day.
  • No smoking for at least 1hour prior to test.
  • No alcohol within 4 hours of testing
  • Do not eat a large meal within 2 hours of testing
  • No vigorous exercise within 30 min of testing
  • No medicine such as Ventolin, Respolin, Bricanyl, Asmol , Airomir,  for 8 hours
  • No medicine such as Ipratrin, Atrovent, for 12 hours
  • No long acting medicines such as Seretide, Serevent,  Foradile, Oxis, Symbicort, Flutiform or Brimica  for 24 hours.
  • No inhaled steroids such as Pulmicort, Flixotide, QVAR, Alvesco  for 24 hours
  • No oral steroids such as Prednisolone, Prednisone, Dexamethasone, for 3 days.
  • No Spiriva, Incruse, Seebri, Spiolto, Ulitbro or Bretaris for 3 days.
  • No antihistamine for 3 days
  • No Singulair for 4 days

FeNO (Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide) TEST

FeNO Test is a key diagnostic tool used in the diagnosis of eosinophilic airway inflammation for treatment of Asthma.

Before we can do this test there is some information we need from you, including:

  • If you are allergic to Ventolin
  • History of brain aneurysm, uncontrolled high blood pressure, heart attack or stroke in the past 6 months
  • Any recent stomach, chest or eye surgery
  • If you cough up blood
  • Any recent chest infections

If you are currently taking medication, please refer to the table below to decide if you should withhold it before testing and for how long.

Time to WithholdMedications
4 hoursShort-term bronchodilators e.g.Ventolin, Atrovent, Asmol , Airomir, Bricanyl etc.
12 hoursInhaled corticosteroids and long term bronchodilator Seretide, Symbicort, Breo, Flutiform, Oxis, Serevent,Alvesco, Flixotide, Pulmicort, Qvar

Please let us know if you are taking any other medications, including any that you get without prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shops at the time of the booking.

Things to stay away from before testing

  • Eating and drinking 1 hour prior to the test
  • Smoking 1 hour before the test
  • Vigorous exercise 1 hour before the test
  • Alcohol and allergy shots 24 hours before the test
  • Caffeine on the day of the test
  • Antihistamine 4 days prior to the test
  • Consuming below listed foods on the day of the test
VegetableFruitsProcessed meat
Spinach, Lettuce, Rocket, Cabbage, Garlic,Beetroot, Celery, Carrot, Cucumber
Chervil, Green beans, Leak, Pepper, Spring onion, Turnip tops, Radish		Strawberries
Raspberries
Cherries
Gooseberries
Currants		Ham
Bacon
Salami

Performing the test

1. You will be asked to have a big breath in to fill your lungs and then blow out with a steady rate into a tube called mouthpiece for about 10 seconds.
2. The mouthpiece will be connected to an electronic machine which will provide a number on successful completion of the test.
3. Spirometry will be performed on the day as well where you will be asked to sit upright while blowing out forcefully into a tube
4. A nose clip will be placed on your nose so you are only breathing through your mouth
5. After breathing out forcefully you will then be asked to deeply breathe
6. These steps are repeated minimum 6 times.

Ventolin is required to inhale between pre and post spirometry tests.

If you are unsure about any part of the test or have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call us on 1300 292 022