Protocol - Lung Function - Diffusion Capacity
- Arterial Blood Gas (ABG)
- Bronchodilator Responsiveness (BDR)
- Chest Computed Tomography (CT)
- Chest X-ray
- Exercise Capacity/Six-Minute Walk Test
- Lung Function - Lung Volume
- Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR)
- Personal and Family History of Respiratory Symptoms/Diseases - Adult
- Personal and Family History of Respiratory Symptoms/Diseases - Child
- Pulse Oximetry (Exercise)
- Pulse Oximetry (Rest)
- Quality of Life as Affected by Respiratory Disease
- Respiratory Rate - Adult
- Respiratory Rate - Child
- Respiratory Rate - Infant
- Sleep Apnea - Adult
- Sleep Apnea - Child
- Spirometry - Adult
- Spirometry - Child
Description
The American Thoracic Society (ATS) and the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Task Force recommendations for standardisation of the single-breath determination of carbon monoxide uptake in the lung outlines principles for performing high-quality single-breath carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (DLCO) testing. Topics covered include necessary equipment (e.g., gas analyzers), standardization issues associated with single-breath testing technique, and how to evaluate the quality of measurements of DLCO, calculations, definitions and abbreviations.
These recommendations for the single-breath determination of carbon monoxide uptake in the lung are part of a series of recommendations by the ATS/ERS Task Force for the standardization of lung function testing, which can be found on the ATS website at www.thoracic.org/statements/pulmonary-function.php. Detailed information regarding patient preparation is included in the general considerations section of the recommendations for lung function testing in this series.
Specific Instructions
A comprehensive evaluation of lung function requires investigation of various aspects of the lung, such as diffusion capacity and lung volume. Hence, the American Thoracic Society (ATS) and the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Task Force have published a series of documents regarding pulmonary function testing. The Sickle Cell Disease: Cardiovascular, Pulmonary, and Renal Working Group recommends researchers access the ATS website (www.thoracic.org/) to view other documents in this series that may apply to their area of research.
Also please note, per www.thoracic.org/statements/resources/pft/pft4.pdf: If clinically acceptable, the subject should not breathe supplemental oxygen for 10 minutes prior to a standard test.
At least 4 minutes should be allowed between tests to allow an adequate elimination of test gas from the lungs. The subject should remain seated during this interval. In patients with obstructive airway disease, a longer period (e.g., 10 minutes) should be considered.
The average of at least two acceptable tests should be reported (i.e., outliers excluded).The report should always include the unadjusted measured carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (DLCO), the predicted DLCO for the subject, and percent predicted DLCO achieved. Additionally, the alveolar volume (VA) should be obtained and the DLCO/VA (predicted and percent predicted) should be reported. Any adjustments (e.g., for Hb, COHb, PI, or O2,) should also be reported along with the data used to make the adjustment.
The Sickle Cell Disease Curative Therapy Working Group recommends that diffusion capacity be performed in sickle cell patients undergoing hematopoietic cell transplant at one time point pre-transplant (baseline) and 100 days, six months, and annually post- transplant.
Availability
Protocol
Lung Function Testing: Single-breath carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (DLCO)
The American Thoracic Society (ATS) and the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Task Force recommendations for standardisation of the single-breath determination of carbon monoxide uptake in the lung can be found here as well as on the ATS website: www.thoracic.org/statements/resources/pft/pft4.pdf
Personnel and Training Required
Certified respiratory therapist who is also certified in the proper use of equipment for single-breath carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (DLCO).
Equipment Needs
A source of test gas (such as bag-in-box, spirometer, compressed gas cylinder)
A method for measuring inspired and expired volume over time (such as spirometers with kymographs, pneumotachometers near the mouthpiece or near a bag-in-box)
Gas analysers (single-sample analysers or continuous high-speed analysers)
Requirements
Requirement Category | Required |
---|---|
Major equipment | Yes |
Specialized training | Yes |
Specialized requirements for biospecimen collection | No |
Average time of greater than 15 minutes in an unaffected individual | No |
Mode of Administration
Clinical assessment
Lifestage
Child, Adolescent, Adult, Senior, Pregnancy
Participants
Individuals age 8 years old and older.
Selection Rationale
Although there are various methods to measure carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (DLCO) of the lung (such as steady-state, intra-breath, and rebreathing techniques), the single-breath technique is most commonly used worldwide.
Language
English
Standards
Standard | Name | ID | Source |
---|---|---|---|
Human Phenotype Ontology | Abnormal DLCO | HP:0045049 | HPO |
caDSR Form | PhenX PX810301 - Lung Function Diffusion Capacity | 6251980 | caDSR Form |
Derived Variables
None
Process and Review
Not applicable.
Protocol Name from Source
MacIntyre, N., et al. Standardization of the single-breath determination of carbon monoxide uptake in the lung. EUR RESPIR J, 2005
Source
MacIntyre, N., Crapo, R. O., Viegi, G., Johnson, D.C., van der Grinten, C.P.M., Brusasco, V., Burgos, F., Casaburi, R., Coates, A., Enright, P., Gustafsson, P., Hankinson, J., Jensen, R., McKay, R., Miller, M.R., Navajas, D., Pedersen, O.F., Pellegrino, R. & Wanger, J. (2005). Standardisation of the single-breath determination of carbon monoxide uptake in the lung. European Respiratory Journal, 26, 720-735. doi:10.1183/09031936.05.00034905
General References
Arteta, M., Campbell, A., Nouraie, M., Rana, S., Onyekwere, O. C., Ensing, G., Sable, C., Dham, N., Darbari, D., Luchtman-Jones, L., Kato, G. J., Gladwin, M. T., Castro, O. L., Minniti, C. P., & Gordeuk, V. R. (2014). Abnormal pulmonary function and associated risk factors in children and adolescents with sickle cell anemia. Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, 36(3), 185-189.
Lunt, A., Desai, S. R., Wells, A. U., Hansell, D. M., Mushemi, S., Melikian, N., Shah, A. M., Thein, S. L., & Greenough, A. (2014). Pulmonary function, CT and echocardiographic abnormalities in sickle cell disease, Thorax 69(8), 746-751.
Protocol ID
810301
Variables
Export VariablesVariable Name | Variable ID | Variable Description | dbGaP Mapping | |
---|---|---|---|---|
PX810301_SingleBreath_CarbonMonoxide_DiffusingCapacity_Concentration_TestGas | ||||
PX810301060000 | What is the gas concentration of the test gas? | N/A | ||
PX810301_SingleBreath_CarbonMonoxide_DiffusingCapacity_DeadSpace_Adult | ||||
PX810301170000 | For adults, is the dead space volume more | N/A | ||
PX810301_SingleBreath_CarbonMonoxide_DiffusingCapacity_DeadSpace_AlveolarSample | ||||
PX810301160100 | What is the dead space volume measurement more | N/A | ||
PX810301_SingleBreath_CarbonMonoxide_DiffusingCapacity_DeadSpace_Volume | ||||
PX810301150100 | What is the dead space volume measurement more | N/A | ||
PX810301_SingleBreath_CarbonMonoxide_DiffusingCapacity_DeadSpace_VolumeMetric | ||||
PX810301150200 | How is this metric used in the more | N/A | ||
PX810301_SingleBreath_CarbonMonoxide_DiffusingCapacity_DeadSpace_VolumeMetric2 | ||||
PX810301160200 | How is this metric used in the more | N/A | ||
PX810301_SingleBreath_CarbonMonoxide_DiffusingCapacity_Device_CoolGas | ||||
PX810301380000 | Does the device allow exhaled gases to cool more | N/A | ||
PX810301_SingleBreath_CarbonMonoxide_DiffusingCapacity_Device_RemoveCo2 | ||||
PX810301360000 | Does the device remove CO2 from the exhaled gas? | N/A | ||
PX810301_SingleBreath_CarbonMonoxide_DiffusingCapacity_Device_RemoveH2o | ||||
PX810301370000 | Does the device remove H20 from the exhaled gas? | N/A | ||
PX810301_SingleBreath_CarbonMonoxide_DiffusingCapacity_Equipment_CalibratedAccuracy | ||||
PX810301040100 | Is the device calibrated to accurately more | N/A | ||
PX810301_SingleBreath_CarbonMonoxide_DiffusingCapacity_Equipment_CalibratedDeviations | ||||
PX810301040200 | If so, are the deviations from the true more | N/A | ||
PX810301_SingleBreath_CarbonMonoxide_DiffusingCapacity_Equipment_CalibratedVolume | ||||
PX810301030000 | Regardless of the method being used, does more | N/A | ||
PX810301_SingleBreath_CarbonMonoxide_DiffusingCapacity_Equipment_Method | ||||
PX810301020100 | Which of the following best describes the more | N/A | ||
PX810301_SingleBreath_CarbonMonoxide_DiffusingCapacity_Equipment_Method_Other | ||||
PX810301020200 | Which of the following best describes the more | N/A | ||
PX810301_SingleBreath_CarbonMonoxide_DiffusingCapacity_Equipment_Regulator | ||||
PX810301110100 | Is a demand-flow regulator being used on a more | N/A | ||
PX810301_SingleBreath_CarbonMonoxide_DiffusingCapacity_Equipment_Resistance | ||||
PX810301110200 | If no, is the circuit resistance of the more | N/A | ||
PX810301_SingleBreath_CarbonMonoxide_DiffusingCapacity_Equipment_Resistance2 | ||||
PX810301110300 | If yes, is the circuit resistance of the more | N/A | ||
PX810301_SingleBreath_CarbonMonoxide_DiffusingCapacity_Equipment_Timing | ||||
PX810301120000 | Is the timing device accurate to within 1% more | N/A | ||
PX810301_SingleBreath_CarbonMonoxide_DiffusingCapacity_Equipment_TimingTechnique | ||||
PX810301130000 | What timing technique was used for more | N/A | ||
PX810301_SingleBreath_CarbonMonoxide_DiffusingCapacity_InspiredCO | ||||
PX810301310000 | Is the inspired CO around 0.3% of the more | N/A | ||
PX810301_SingleBreath_CarbonMonoxide_DiffusingCapacity_MeasuredConcentration_TestGas | ||||
PX810301070000 | What is the measured gas concentration of more | N/A | ||
PX810301_SingleBreath_CarbonMonoxide_DiffusingCapacity_Observed_Drift | ||||
PX810301080000 | Is significant drift observed over the time more | N/A | ||
PX810301_SingleBreath_CarbonMonoxide_DiffusingCapacity_Quality_Accuracy | ||||
PX810301210100 | Within the last 3 months, was the accuracy more | N/A | ||
PX810301_SingleBreath_CarbonMonoxide_DiffusingCapacity_Quality_AccuracyDate | ||||
PX810301210200 | If no, what is today's date (test date)? | Variable Mapping | ||
PX810301_SingleBreath_CarbonMonoxide_DiffusingCapacity_Quality_Calibration | ||||
PX810301200000 | Was the calibration test performed with a more | N/A | ||
PX810301_SingleBreath_CarbonMonoxide_DiffusingCapacity_Quality_Leaks | ||||
PX810301180000 | Within the last week, was the device tested more | N/A | ||
PX810301_SingleBreath_CarbonMonoxide_DiffusingCapacity_Quality_VolumeCalibration | ||||
PX810301190000 | Was the volume calibration test with the 3L more | N/A | ||
PX810301_SingleBreath_CarbonMonoxide_DiffusingCapacity_ReadingStability_CO | ||||
PX810301090000 | Is the reading stable +/- 0.001% absolute for CO? | N/A | ||
PX810301_SingleBreath_CarbonMonoxide_DiffusingCapacity_ReadingStability_Tracer | ||||
PX810301100000 | Is the reading stable +/- 0.5% of the full more | N/A | ||
PX810301_SingleBreath_CarbonMonoxide_DiffusingCapacity_Results_Carboxyhemoglobin | ||||
PX810301430000 | Are carboxyhemoglobin levels < 2%? If not, more | N/A | ||
PX810301_SingleBreath_CarbonMonoxide_DiffusingCapacity_Standardization | ||||
PX810301230000 | Did the subject breathe supplemental oxygen more | N/A | ||
PX810301_SingleBreath_CarbonMonoxide_DiffusingCapacity_Standardization_Broncodilator | ||||
PX810301330000 | Was a bronchodilator used? | N/A | ||
PX810301_SingleBreath_CarbonMonoxide_DiffusingCapacity_Standardization_Exercise | ||||
PX810301240100 | Was the subject involved in any exercise more | N/A | ||
PX810301_SingleBreath_CarbonMonoxide_DiffusingCapacity_Standardization_ExerciseIntensity | ||||
PX810301240200 | If so, please describe the intensity level more | N/A | ||
PX810301_SingleBreath_CarbonMonoxide_DiffusingCapacity_Standardization_LastCigarette | ||||
PX810301270000 | What time did the subject smoke his/her last more | Variable Mapping | ||
PX810301_SingleBreath_CarbonMonoxide_DiffusingCapacity_Standardization_SampleGasVolume | ||||
PX810301290000 | Is the sample gas volume collected between more | N/A | ||
PX810301_SingleBreath_CarbonMonoxide_DiffusingCapacity_Standardization_SubjectDemonstration | ||||
PX810301260000 | Has a demonstration of the manuevers more | N/A | ||
PX810301_SingleBreath_CarbonMonoxide_DiffusingCapacity_Standardization_Supine | ||||
PX810301250100 | Was the subject in a supine position prior more | N/A | ||
PX810301_SingleBreath_CarbonMonoxide_DiffusingCapacity_Standardization_SupineDuration | ||||
PX810301250200 | If so, please provide the duration of the more | N/A | ||
PX810301_SingleBreath_CarbonMonoxide_DiffusingCapacity_Standardization_TotalExhalation | ||||
PX810301280100 | What length of time did the subject need for more | N/A | ||
PX810301_SingleBreath_CarbonMonoxide_DiffusingCapacity_Standardization_TotalExhalationPlus | ||||
PX810301280200 | If total exhalation time > 4sec, please note more | N/A | ||
PX810301_SingleBreath_CarbonMonoxide_DiffusingCapacity_Standardization_TracerType | ||||
PX810301300100 | What type of tracer gas was used? | N/A | ||
PX810301_SingleBreath_CarbonMonoxide_DiffusingCapacity_Standardization_TracerTypeOther | ||||
PX810301300200 | What type of tracer gas was used? Other | N/A | ||
PX810301_SingleBreath_CarbonMonoxide_DiffusingCapacity_Subject_Age | ||||
PX810301390000 | What is the age of the subject? | Variable Mapping | ||
PX810301_SingleBreath_CarbonMonoxide_DiffusingCapacity_Subject_Height | ||||
PX810301410000 | What is the height of the subject? | Variable Mapping | ||
PX810301_SingleBreath_CarbonMonoxide_DiffusingCapacity_Subject_Oad | ||||
PX810301320100 | Does the subject have obstructive airway disease? | N/A | ||
PX810301_SingleBreath_CarbonMonoxide_DiffusingCapacity_Subject_OadRest | ||||
PX810301320200 | If so, were at least 10 minutes allowed more | N/A | ||
PX810301_SingleBreath_CarbonMonoxide_DiffusingCapacity_Subject_Race | ||||
PX810301420000 | What racial/ethnic group does the subject more | Variable Mapping | ||
PX810301_SingleBreath_CarbonMonoxide_DiffusingCapacity_Subject_Rest | ||||
PX810301340000 | Were at least 4 minutes allowed between tests? | N/A | ||
PX810301_SingleBreath_CarbonMonoxide_DiffusingCapacity_Subject_Seated | ||||
PX810301350000 | Did the subject remain seated during that more | N/A | ||
PX810301_SingleBreath_CarbonMonoxide_DiffusingCapacity_Subject_Sex | ||||
PX810301400000 | What is the sex of the subject? | Variable Mapping | ||
PX810301_SingleBreath_CarbonMonoxide_DiffusingCapacity_TestGas | ||||
PX810301010100 | Which of the following best describes the more | N/A | ||
PX810301_SingleBreath_CarbonMonoxide_DiffusingCapacity_TestGasOther | ||||
PX810301010200 | Which of the following best describes the more | N/A | ||
PX810301_SingleBreath_CarbonMonoxide_DiffusingCapacity_Testing_NewTest | ||||
PX810301220000 | Was the device tared to zero after the last test? | N/A | ||
PX810301_SingleBreath_CarbonMonoxide_DiffusingCapacity_Timing_AutomatedComputation | ||||
PX810301140100 | Does the timing equipment rely on automated more | N/A | ||
PX810301_SingleBreath_CarbonMonoxide_DiffusingCapacity_Timing_AutomatedComputationAccuracy | ||||
PX810301140200 | If so, how accurate is the breath-hold time more | N/A | ||
PX810301_SingleBreath_CarbonMonoxide_DiffusingCapacity_Zero_Measurement | ||||
PX810301050000 | What is the measured gas concentration at zero? | N/A |
Measure Name
Lung Function - Diffusion Capacity
Release Date
July 30, 2015
Definition
Clinical assessment to determine the capacity of an individual’s lung to exchange gases (e.g., oxygen and carbon dioxide) across the alveolar-capillary interface.
Purpose
This measure is used to assess the structural and functional properties of the lung and can detect and quantify symptoms associated with conditions that impact the lung, such as sickle cell disease, cystic fibrosis, and obstructive airways disease.
Keywords
Lung function, lung volume, lung physiology, diffusion capacity, DLCO, functional residual capacity, FRC, sickle cell disease, SCD, emphysema, Cystic fibrosis, CF, asbestosis, lupus, arthritis, smoking, sarcoidosis, carbon monoxide, obstructive airway disease, Pulmonary, asthma, sleep apnea, breathing, sickle cell disease, SCD, "Cardiovascular, Pulmonary, and Renal"
Measure Protocols
Protocol ID | Protocol Name |
---|---|
810301 | Lung Function - Diffusion Capacity |
Publications
There are no publications listed for this protocol.