Spirometry

Spirometry: Important Information Before Your Appointment

The surgery is restarting diagnostic spirometry testing. This was paused during the pandemic and is now being restarted. Below is information for patients who have been contacted and invited in for an appointment for spirometry testing.

If you have not been contacted: Please do not contact the surgery. There is a backlog of patients we are working through as we restart this service.

If you have been contacted: Please see below important information you need to read prior to attending for your appointment. If you have any queries, please contact the surgery, with your appointment time and date and we will be happy to help.

How should I prepare for spirometry?

If you are already taking regular inhalers or medication for your breathing, please bring them to your appointment but we ask that you do not use them, if possible, for the time specified below:

 Medication Withholding times

  • Relievers – SABA (e.g. Salbutamol, Terbutaline) = 4-6 hrs
  • Relievers – SAMA (e.g. Atrovent) = 12 hrs
  • Preventers–LABA (e.g. Salmeterol/Formoterol/Seretide/Symbicort/Fostair) = 24 hrs  
  • Preventers – Ultra-LABA (e.g. Onbrez/Relvar/Anoro/Striverdi) = 36 hrs
  • Preventers – LAMA (e.g. Spriva/Incruse/Eklira/Braltus/Tiotropium = 36-48 hrs 
  • Long acting oral bronchodilators (e.g. Theophylline tablets) = 24 hrs

If you feel breathless and need to use any of these inhalers within the times above, please inform the technician at the start of your appointment.

 Other Instructions:

  • Please do take all of your other medications as normal.
  • Please do bring any inhalers you have to the appointment.
  • Please do not smoke in the 24 hours before the test.
  • Please do not drink alcohol on the day of the test.
  • Please do not have caffeine e.g tea/coffee in the 4 hours before the test.
  • Please avoid eating a large meal 2 hours before the test.
  • Please avoid vigorous exercise in the last 30 minutes.
  • Please wear non-restrictive, comfortable clothing.

 For your comfort, please empty your bladder just before your appointment.

 If on the date of your test you have a chest infection, please ring the surgery to cancel & re-book the appointment when you have been well for at least 6 weeks. A chest infection and / or oral steroids will affect your test and give your G.P/ Nurse Practitioner invalid results. 

  What if I have concerns/queries before the test?

Please feel free to phone the surgery and they will arrange for you to speak to the Practice Nurse who specialises in Spirometry, and she will be able to address any questions you may have.