Test Overview
A home lung function test uses a peak flow meter to monitor and evaluate any breathing problems you may have on a day-to-day basis. A peak flow meter allows you to measure your peak expiratory flow.
If you have a lung disease, such as asthma, your health professional may test your peak inspiratory flow (PIF) and peak expiratory flow (PEF) to measure the amount of air you can inhale and exhale. This is part of a more complete lung function test.
Why It Is Done
Testing your peak expiratory flow (PEF) at home may help:
- Measure how well your lungs are working if you have a long-term (chronic) lung disease, such as asthma.
- Guide the treatment and monitor the effectiveness of treatment for asthma. Peak expiratory flow monitoring provides information to help people with asthma make better treatment decisions.
- Monitor your lung function if you are regularly exposed to substances at work that can damage your lungs (occupational asthma).
- Measure improvement in your lung function if you are starting an exercise program or stopping smoking.
- Monitor for early signs of rejection if you have had a lung transplant.
How To Prepare
To perform the peak expiratory flow (PEF) test, you need a peak flow meter. A peak flow meter is an inexpensive handheld device you breathe into as hard and as fast as you can.
Read and follow the instructions included with the peak flow meter. Ask your health professional to show you how to use this device before you use it at home. If you have questions about how to use a peak flow meter or how to read the results, talk with your health professional.
Avoid eating a heavy meal for about 3 hours before performing a PEF test. Be sure to sit up straight or stand to help you take as large a breath as you can. Use the same position every time you test your PEF. Peak flow monitoring relies on your trying as hard as you can. For accurate results, it is important that you give the test your best effort every time.
How It Is Done
Before you begin to test your peak expiratory flow (PEF), remove any gum or food you may have in your mouth. Follow these steps to use your peak flow meter:
- Set the pointer on the gauge of the peak flow meter to 0 (zero).
- Attach the mouthpiece to the peak flow meter.
- Stand up or sit up straight to allow yourself to take a deep breath. Whether you stand or sit up straight, make sure you use the same position each time you test your PEF.
- Place the peak flow meter mouthpiece in your mouth and close your lips tightly around the outside of the mouthpiece. Do not put your tongue inside the mouthpiece.
- Breathe out as hard and as fast as you can using a huff. You do not need to breathe out for more than a second.
- Note the value on the gauge.
- Move the pointer on the gauge back to 0 (zero) before you blow again.
- Blow into the peak flow meter 2 more times. Record your values each time you blow. If you cough or make a mistake during the testing, do the test over.
- After you have blown into your peak flow meter 3 times, record the highest value on your daily record sheet.
How It Feels
Breathing in and out very quickly during these tests may make you feel lightheaded or may make you cough. If you feel like you are going to pass out, stop the test.
Risks
There are no significant risks associated with measuring peak expiratory flow (PEF). Breathing in and out very quickly during the test may make you feel lightheaded or may make you cough. If you feel lightheaded, stop the test.
Results
A home lung function test uses a peak flow meter to monitor and evaluate any breathing problems you may have on a day-to-day basis. A peak flow meter allows you to measure your peak expiratory flow (PEF). PEF measures how fast you can exhale using the greatest effort. Results from this test can be compared to monitor the progression of disease or help measure your response to medical treatment for a long-term (chronic) lung disease, such as asthma.
Peak flows are compared to charts that list normal values based on age, sex, race, and height. They also can be compared with your personal best measurement. Check with your health professional or read the information included with your peak flow meter to find your normal range, which will vary depending on the type of breathing problems you may have. If you find abnormal results on any of the tests, discuss them with your health professional.
- Normally there is a slight variation (10% to 15%) between PEF measurements taken in the morning and in the afternoon.
- For a person who does not have asthma, peak flows may vary between 10% and 15% throughout the day.
- For a person who has poorly controlled asthma, peak flows may vary more than 20% throughout the day.
What Affects the Test
The accuracy of peak flow monitoring depends on your effort during the test. Results will be inaccurate if you do not follow directions or do not give your best effort during testing. The following factors also may affect the results of peak flow monitoring:
- Using medication that expands the airways in the lungs within 4 hours before the test may inaccurately improve the test results.
- Using sedatives before the test may inaccurately worsen test results.
- People who have pain while breathing may not be able to breathe normally. Therefore, the results of their tests may be misleading.
What To Think About
- Your health professional may do a complete series of lung function tests to confirm a lung disease, monitor the progression of lung disease, or monitor the effectiveness of treatment. For more information, see the medical test Lung Function Tests.
- Checking your peak expiratory flow (PEF) provides information that may help you decrease your asthma symptoms and preserve lung function. The benefits of better lung function may include improved quality of life, fewer emergency department visits, greater personal control and confidence, and reduced use of oral steroid medications, antibiotics, and bronchodilators. For more information on controlling your asthma, see the topic Asthma in Teens and Adults.
- When using a home peak flow meter, it is best to use the same meter over time. Different brands of meters give different results. If you change your peak flow meter, you need to redetermine your personal best measurement using the new machine.
- Wash your meter according to the manufacturer's directions to prevent growth of bacteria and fungi.
- PEF is lowest in the early morning and highest in the afternoon. If you measure your PEF only once a day, do so first thing in the morning before using any bronchodilator medication.
- People with mild intermittent or mild persistent asthma may not need to check their PEF every day. However, if severe symptoms develop, checking peak expiratory flow often for a period of time may be helpful in bringing asthma under control.
References
Other Works Consulted
Fischbach FT, Dunning MB III, eds. (2004). Manual of Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests, 7th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
Credits
| Author | Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS |
| Editor | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA |
| Associate Editor | Tracy Landauer |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Martin Gabica, MD - Family Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | R. Steven Tharratt, MD, MPVM, FACP, FCCP - Pulmonology, Critical Care, Medical Toxicology |
| Last Updated | January 24, 2007 |
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