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Pulmonary Function Test (PFT)

Learn about pulmonary function tests and the practices that offer this service.

PFT measures how efficiently an individual's lungs perform essential tasks. Several separate techniques are used to determine the amount of air the lungs can hold, how well the lungs move air into and out of the body and how effectively they exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide.

There are three primary phases of pulmonary function testing:

  • Spirometry
  • Lung volume measurement
  • Diffusion capacity measurement

However, there are variations on these tests that can provide physicians with information on lung disorders. All of the tests listed provide measures of various lung functions, including volume, carbon monoxide response, total lung capacity and many more. With this, physicians can accurately diagnose both the nature of the lung disorder and its severity.