Pulmonary Function Laboratory Standards

There is growing public and professional concern about the ability of medical laboratories to perform appropriate medical tests properly and efficiently, and the benefits patients derive from testing. This concern has led to suggestions for mandatory proficiency testing, with the American Thoracic Society (ATS) establishing a committee on proficiency testing in clinical pulmonary function laboratories. The ATS has since promulgated recommendations for pulmonary laboratory standardization, recognizing the need for consistent performance. Proficiency testing for pulmonary function is complex due to patient-effort dependency and requires skilled interaction between technicians and patients. The article emphasizes that establishing standards is crucial for comparing test performance and ensuring medical tests are performed proficiently, despite the challenges in defining absolute "truth" in testing.