An initial
spirometry is performed to assess the patient's native respiratory status. The patient will be asked to take a deep breath and then blow into the mouthpiece of the spirometer as hard as you can. This is a baseline measurement. A dose of
bronchodilator medication is administered by means of inhaler or nebulizer (such as 400mcg of
salbutamol (also known as albuterol)). You will wait about 15 minutes and then the spirometry is repeated. An increase in FEV1 (or forced expiratory volume in the first second of a forced exhalation) of >200ml is considered a positive result. Bear in mind, however, that this number does not apply to children, and that it can differ depending on the patient's native result; small patient's with
pulmonary fibrosis,
restrictive lung disease etc. will have a measurably lower FEV1 than healthy average-sized adults. This can give a false positive result of the test. == References ==