The Respiratory Laboratory provides lung function and exercise testing to help aid diagnosis, progression of disease and assess effectiveness of treatment.

The service is located within Area 3 of the Outpatient Department at Forth Valley Royal Hospital.

There are currently 4 Respiratory Physiologists who provide this service to patients from both primary and secondary care.

Tests include:

• Spirometry – to measure the speed and volume of air you can blow. From this we can better understand if there is a problem.
• Reversibility testing – to assess responsiveness to inhalers (useful in helping diagnose COPD/asthma)
• Transfer factor – to better understand if your lungs have a problem transferring oxygen from the air you breath to the blood. This helps identify any disease of the lung tissue or blood vessels.
• Lung volumes – to measure lung capacity and assess whether lungs are over-expanded from disorders like emphysema.
• Exhaled Nitric Oxide – a method to measure the type of inflammation found in asthma.
• Field Exercise Testing (6min walk test) – measures exercise capacity which is more reflective of day to day activities
• Bronchial Provocation Testing (Mannitol Challenge/exercise induced asthma) – useful for aiding diagnosis of asthma
• Muscle Pressures (MIPS/MEPS) – assessment of respiratory muscle strength
• Cardio pulmonary Exercise Test – gives detailed information about the heart and lungs when exercising

The department also provides home sleep studies which are used to help diagnose Sleep Disordered Breathing (e.g. obstructive sleep apnoea), this may result in referral on to a specialist centre for treatment or further investigation.