What is spirometry?
Spirometry is a safe and simple breathing test performed on a device called a Spirometer. The Spirometer measures the amount of air you can breathe out in one second (FEV1) and the total volume of air you can exhale from your lungs in one forced breath (FVC).
Spirometry is often used to check the impact of infections and response to treatments. The spirometry test is performed in GP Practices, Respiratory Physiology Departments, Hospital clinics and now for many PCD patients the test can be done at home on individual, Bluetooth based units (see picture below).
These measurements are compared with results for someone of a similar age, height, and gender as yourself. They can then be shown as a percentage of a predicted value.