In a spirometry test, what consequence might arise from failing to meet reproducible criteria?

In spirometry testing, reproducibility is crucial for the validity of the results. When the criteria for reproducibility are not met, it often leads to the conclusion that the test results cannot be trusted to reflect the patient’s true pulmonary function. This may occur if the effort provided during the testing is inconsistent, such as variability in forced vital capacity (FVC) or forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) between multiple maneuvers.

When results are deemed invalid, they fail to meet the standards set by guidelines like those from the American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society (ATS/ERS) for acceptable spirometry. This necessitates either a repeat of the test under proper conditions or utilizing different methodologies to gather accurate data, preventing the clinician from making informed decisions based on potentially false interpretations of the pulmonary function.

Achieving valid, reproducible results is essential for accurate diagnostic and therapeutic goals, and thus any issues with reproducibility directly threaten the reliability of the results.