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Spirometry is the lung function test of choice for both diagnosis and assessment of asthma. Most adults, and children over 7 years of age can perform spirometry.
(See Diagnosis and Assessment of Asthma below.)
The National Asthma Council recommends that all doctors managing asthma should have access to and use a spirometer for this purpose.
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Spirometry training course
The National Asthma Council Australia's national spirometry training course for GPs and practice nurses provides comprehensive training in the application, measurement and interpretation of expiratory spirometry in general practice.
Go to Spirometry training course
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Spirometer Users' and Buyers' Guide
Debbie Burton, David P. Johns and Maureen Swanney
The guide aims to give GPs and others performing lung function testing all the essentials on fundamental aspects of lung function testing and spirometer purchase.
Go to Spirometer Users' and Buyers' Guide
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Spirometry: The Measurement and Interpretation of Ventilatory Function in Clinical Practice.
Rob Pierce and David P. Johns
Written as a guide for those involved in the performance and interpretation of spirometry in clinical practice as introductory information. (Revised by David P. Johns July 2004 and March 2008.)
Go to Spirometry: The Measurement and Interpretation of Ventilatory Function in Clinical Practice.
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Performing Spirometry in General Practice
Online video with Associate Professor John Wilson and Mr Bruce Thompson from The Alfred Hospital presenting the role of spirometry in the general practice setting for the diagnosis and management of asthma.
View Performing Spirometry in General Practice
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ANZSRS/TSANZ Position Paper on Spirometry Training Courses
Position statement of the Australian & New Zealand Society of Respiratory Science & The Thoracic Society of Australia & New Zealand on spirometry training courses.
View position statement
www.anzsrs.org.au/spirotrainingposition.pdf
172 KB PDF file (Acrobat Reader required)
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Pocket Guide to Spirometry, 2nd edition
David P. Johns and Rob Pierce
This handbook covers essentials facts about spirometry including what it is and how it can be used effectively, how the test is performed and interpreted, different types of spirometers, and some common pitfalls and problems.
Go to McGraw-Hill Australia, 2007
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How to perform and interpret Spirometry
David P. Johns and Rob Pierce
Go to Medi+World International, 2002
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Diagnosis and Assessment of Asthma
 The aim of spirometry in general practice is to assess variability of airflow obstruction, and to measure the degree of airflow obstruction compared to predicted normal.
Accurate measurement of respiratory function is necessary to assess and manage asthma. Successive measurements before and after bronchodilator use allow you to:
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diagnose airway obstruction
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measure the degree of airway obstruction
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monitor the effects of treatment
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demonstrate the presence and reversibility of airway obstruction to the patient
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provide objective feedback to the patient about the presence and severity of asthma
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accurately back-titrate preventive medication to determine the minimum effective dose.
The diagnosis of asthma is confirmed by demonstrating the presence of variable airway obstruction.
Spirometry is the method of choice as the measurement of peak expiratory flow (PEF) with conventional peak flow meters has significant limitations.
Content Updated March 28, 2008
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Last Updated ( Friday, 29 January 2010 )
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Spirometry Resources 
