Lung Function Testing
Fast, comprehensive respiratory assessments for accurate diagnosis and personalised care.
What is a Lung Function Test?
A lung function test is a group of non-invasive tests that measure how well your lungs are working.
These tests assess:
- How much air you can breathe in and out
- How quickly you can exhale
- How efficiently oxygen passes from your lungs into your blood
A lung function test (also called a lung function assessment or pulmonary function test) is a group of safe, non-invasive tests that measure how well your lungs work. These tests assess:
- Airflow – how much air you breathe in and out, and how quickly
- Lung volumes – how much air your lungs hold at maximum
- Gas exchange – how efficiently oxygen and carbon dioxide move between your lungs and blood
- Response to medication or exercise
These tests are essential for diagnosing lung conditions, monitoring disease progression, and evaluating treatment effectiveness.
Who Should Consider Testing?
A lung function test is a group of non-invasive tests that measure how well your lungs are working.
You may be advised to take these tests if you’re experiencing:
- Shortness of breath
- Persistent cough
- Wheeze
- Breathlessness
- Suspected or diagnosed asthma or bronchitis
- Symptoms suggestive of interstitial lung disease or Suppurative Lung disease
- Pre-operative assessment, particularly before surgery
Our Comprehensive Test Suite
Spirometry
Uses a mouthpiece and nose clip to measure airflow and volume.
- Identifies airway obstruction or restriction
- Includes reversibility testing with a bronchodilator to differentiate asthma
Body Plethysmography (Lung Volumes)
Measured in an airtight glass booth to assess:
- Total Lung Capacity (TLC)
- Residual Volume (RV)
Useful for detecting overinflation or restricted lung expansion
Gas Transfer Test (DLCO / TLCO)
You breathe in a benign gas mixture (including carbon monoxide), hold your breath, then exhale.
- Measures how well oxygen moves into your bloodstream
- Helps diagnose tissue-related lung diseases, like pulmonary fibrosis
Respiratory Muscle Strength (Mouth & Sniff Pressures)
Assesses the strength of your breathing muscles:
- Maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressures via mouthpiece
- “Sniff” test through a nasal probe
- Includes supine vs upright vital capacity to detect diaphragmatic weakness
Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO)
Measures airway inflammation by detecting nitric oxide in your breath.
Hypoxic Challenge (Fitness to Fly)
Simulates airplane cabin oxygen conditions (~15% O₂) in a controlled environment.
- Assesses if oxygen supplementation is needed during flight
Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing (CPET)
On a bike or treadmill, this test evaluates lung, heart, and muscle response to exercise:
- Monitors breathing, ECG, blood pressure, and sometimes blood gases
- Helps identify causes of breathlessness, assess exercise capacity, or evaluate pre-surgical fitness
Performed by: Certified respiratory physiologists
Book Your Lung Function Tests
We welcome referrals from GPs, paediatricians, and self-referring families.
Request a referral or book an appointment with Professor Gupta today.
Based in London | Fast appointments | Infants to teens seen
