The future of pulmonary function testing.
The pulmonary function lab of today is heavily focused on describing pathophysiology and quantifying the extent of disease. As we move forward, it is important that the results of pulmonary function tests go beyond this and be linked to important outcomes that truly affect clinical  decision making. To get there, improvements in device performance are required, high quality technicians are critical, and properly trained interpreting clinicians with good reference standards are mandatory. Moreover, as accessibility to these tests is increased, it is important that quality  metrics remain intact. There is a wide array of novel tests that might be performed by pulmonary function labs in the future. These range from modification of current technologies to brand new technologies that are still in early development. Examples include exhaled breath analysis, sophisticated  analyses of lung mechanics and gas exchange, cardiac and tissue oxygenation assessments, and imaging technologies. Adoption of any new technology will require, even more than today, clear evidence that the new technology is a real adjunct to clinical decision making.
Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
Neil R
NR
MacIntyre
D000465:Algorithms; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002302:Cardiac Output; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D011659:Pulmonary Gas Exchange; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests / Q000639:trends
D015415:Biomarkers; D010100:Oxygen