What is the name of the test used to measure lung function?

Spirometry is the name of the test used to measure lung function. It assesses how much air a person can inhale and exhale, as well as how fast they can do it. This is crucial for diagnosing and managing various respiratory conditions, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and other disorders affecting airflow and lung capacity.

During the spirometry test, patients breathe into a device called a spirometer, which records the amount of air they exhale and the speed of the airflow. The results can provide valuable information about lung health and are often expressed in terms such as forced expiratory volume (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC).

In contrast, an electrocardiogram assesses the electrical activity of the heart, a CT scan provides detailed images of body structures including the lungs but does not measure lung function directly, and ultrasound is primarily used for imaging soft tissues and organs but is not used to measure respiratory function. Thus, spirometry stands out as the specific test for evaluating lung function.