Often the first step in evaluating lung function to determine the cause of shortness of breath. Unlike a chest x-ray which gives a mere static picture of the lungs, Pulmonary function tests (PFTs):

• Aids in the diagnosis of lung disease, and is considered the gold standard for COPD diagnosis
• Can be used to assess disease severity, its progression and response to treatment
• Evaluate current lung function
• Determine adequate respiratory function to withstand surgery

An abbreviated lung function test used to evaluate the status of patients with asthma and COPD. It can prove useful in determining effectiveness of current treatment.

An arterial blood gas (ABG) test measures the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood to find out how well the lungs are functioning. An ABG test can determine how well the lungs can move oxygen into the blood and remove carbon dioxide from the blood.An arterial blood gas (ABG) test measures the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood to find out how well the lungs are working. An ABG test checks how well the lungs can move oxygen into the blood and removed carbon dioxide from the blood.