How to Prepare for your Appointment

 

To prepare for your Pulmonary Function Test, please follow these instructions:

Please arrive 5 minutes early to complete the required pre-examination questionnaire. Please bring support person if translation is required. The complete pulmonary function test takes approximately 45 minutes.

WHAT TO BRING:

  • Alberta Health Care Card

  • Picture ID (driver’s license or passport)

  • List of current medications

  • All your puffers/inhalers

Please wear footwear that can easily be removed/put on as height without shoes is required for testing.

WHAT TO AVOID:

To get the most accurate results from your breathing tests please avoid the following activities:

  • Smoking, vaping or water pipe use within 4 hours before testing.

  • Consuming intoxicating substances eg. alcohol, drugs within 8 hours before testing.

  • Performing vigorous exercise within 1 hour before testing.

  • Wearing clothing that substantially restricts full chest and abdominal expansion

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To prepare for your Methacholine Challenge Test, please follow these instructions:

Your health care provider has requested you complete Methacholine Challenge Testing (MCT) to check if your breathing problem is due to asthma. 

The testing may take 45-60 minutes to complete. During the test you will be asked to blow forcefully into a spirometer to establish your baseline lung function.  Through the testing you will be instructed to breathe in a mist of saline (salt water) solution or different concentrations of methacholine and repeat the spirometry.   

During the test, you may experience some minor symptoms such as cough, chest tightness, shortness of breath or wheeze, or no symptoms at all.  Any symptoms you may experience during the testing last only a few minutes and disappear after the inhalation of a bronchodilator medication during the testing process. This test does not cause an asthma attack. 

There are some reasons that may not allow you to complete an MCT such as: 

  • Uncontrolled/untreated blood pressure.  

  • Aortic or cerebral aneurysm 

  • Heart attack or stroke within the last 3 months. 

  • Pregnant or nursing 

  • Respiratory illness/cold in the past 6 weeks. 

If any of the above apply to you, please let us know as you may need to book at a later time.  

Preparation for the Testing:  

  • no smoking or vigorous exercise for 1 hour prior to testing  

  • no alcohol 4-8 hours prior to testing 

  • some medications need to be withheld prior to MCT.  Please be aware that if you show up for your test without withholding these medications, you may need to be rescheduled to a later date.  

    MEDICATIONS TO WHITHOLD

  • Ventolin (salbutamol), Bricanyl (terbutaline) withhold for 6 hours

  • Atrovent (ipratropium bromide) withhold for 12 hours

  • Oral theophylline withhold for 12-24 hours

  • Qvar (beclomethasone),Alvesco (ciclesonide), Serevent (salmeterol), Oxeze, Symbicort, Advair, Wixela, Zenhale (formoterol) Atectura (indacaterol),Anoro, Breo (vilanterol) withhold for 2 days

  • Spiriva, Inspiolto (tiotropium bromide), Seebri, Ultibro, Breztri, Enerzair(glycopyrronium), Tudorza,Duaklir(aclidinium) Incruse, Trelegy (umeclidinium) withhold for 7 days

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