Spirometry Quality Assurance

<p>Spirometry is the most common pulmonary function test (PFT) and it plays a central role in occupational respiratory disease surveillance programs. Accurate spirometry testing interpretation and follow-up are critical to effective screening and surveillance of workers exposed to respiratory hazards and to the management of patients in the clinical setting.<br><br>Spirometry quality assurance includes examination of test values and evaluation of both the volume-time and flow-volume curves for evidence of technical errors. Technically poor spirometry may have little value and may even provide misleading information. When erroneous curves are detected additional maneuvers are often needed. During testing technicians should attempt to record a valid test which is composed of at least 3 acceptable maneuvers with consistent (repeatable) results for both FVC and FEV1. Achieving repeatability during testing means that the difference between the largest and second largest values for both FVC and for FEV1 are within 0 .15 l (150 ml). Additional maneuvers can be attempted up to a maximum of 8 to meet these criteria for a valid test. Even tests that have 3 acceptable maneuvers of which at least 2 are repeatable may not represent an individual's maximum effort. Ideally there should be 3 maximal effort curves with the same size and shape.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p>