PFT BASICS QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS 100% CORRECT RATED A+
NEWLY UPDATED 2025
Pulmonary Function Testing (PFT)
✔✔
PFTs consist of spirometry, lung volume measurements, and diffusion capacity
tests (DLCO). These are essential tools used to diagnose, monitor, and manage
cardiopulmonary diseases.
Clinical Indications for Pulmonary Function Testing
✔✔
PFTs may be ordered for the following reasons:
✅ Detect whether lung disease is present or absent
✅ Assess the severity and impact of a known respiratory condition
✅ Evaluate effects of occupational or environmental exposures (e.g.,
asbestos, chemicals)
✅ Monitor response to medical treatments or therapies
✅ Determine a patient’s risk before undergoing surgery, especially
thoracic or abdominal procedures
✅ Establish levels of disability or impairment for legal or compensation
purposes
Anthropometric values are used to calculate the predicted normal value for each
specific PFT test. The primary values used for this calculation are: -
ANSWER✔✔Height
Gender
, Age
Race
Weight - ANSWER✔✔Weight is not used in the calculations but helps the
interpreting provider better understand the patient's body habitus.
For example, a person that is morbidly obese may demonstrate restrictive lung
defects that are solely related to chest wall compression. There is not a true lung
disease present, though the patient may state the occurance of dyspnea with
exertion.
Calculating Body Mass Index (BMI) is useful because a value > 30 indicates
obesity.
Height - ANSWER✔✔Height is the most critical value to obtaining accurate
predicted values, as small errors can significantly alter the calculated predicted
values. Make sure height is measured without shoes. Do not use a person's reported
height as this number is typically inaccurate and will skew the true test results.
If a person cannot stand or has a history of kyphosis or scoliosis, then arm span
may be used as a good estimation.
Height = Arm Span x 1.06
Race - ANSWER✔✔It is important to race adjust all values to obtain an accurate
assessment of patient test results. As a rule modern PFT systems will automatically
race adjust predicted normal values when race is entered
ANSWERS WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS 100% CORRECT RATED A+
NEWLY UPDATED 2025
Pulmonary Function Testing (PFT)
✔✔
PFTs consist of spirometry, lung volume measurements, and diffusion capacity
tests (DLCO). These are essential tools used to diagnose, monitor, and manage
cardiopulmonary diseases.
Clinical Indications for Pulmonary Function Testing
✔✔
PFTs may be ordered for the following reasons:
✅ Detect whether lung disease is present or absent
✅ Assess the severity and impact of a known respiratory condition
✅ Evaluate effects of occupational or environmental exposures (e.g.,
asbestos, chemicals)
✅ Monitor response to medical treatments or therapies
✅ Determine a patient’s risk before undergoing surgery, especially
thoracic or abdominal procedures
✅ Establish levels of disability or impairment for legal or compensation
purposes
Anthropometric values are used to calculate the predicted normal value for each
specific PFT test. The primary values used for this calculation are: -
ANSWER✔✔Height
Gender
, Age
Race
Weight - ANSWER✔✔Weight is not used in the calculations but helps the
interpreting provider better understand the patient's body habitus.
For example, a person that is morbidly obese may demonstrate restrictive lung
defects that are solely related to chest wall compression. There is not a true lung
disease present, though the patient may state the occurance of dyspnea with
exertion.
Calculating Body Mass Index (BMI) is useful because a value > 30 indicates
obesity.
Height - ANSWER✔✔Height is the most critical value to obtaining accurate
predicted values, as small errors can significantly alter the calculated predicted
values. Make sure height is measured without shoes. Do not use a person's reported
height as this number is typically inaccurate and will skew the true test results.
If a person cannot stand or has a history of kyphosis or scoliosis, then arm span
may be used as a good estimation.
Height = Arm Span x 1.06
Race - ANSWER✔✔It is important to race adjust all values to obtain an accurate
assessment of patient test results. As a rule modern PFT systems will automatically
race adjust predicted normal values when race is entered
