You can expect several tests when you first attend the clinic for a diagnosis. The definitive diagnosis of bronchiectasis is through a CT scan of your lungs. This is the first essential test.
You will undergo a series of other tests to assess how well your lungs are working. These may include
- Breathing tests – ‘spirometry tests’, which assess your breathing capacity (for more information click here for the Asthma+Lung UK webpage).
- Measuring your oxygen levels in your body (blood oxygen levels)
- You will be asked to produce a sample of sputum from the morning you attend the clinic (if you are producing sputum). This is important in determining the severity of your condition and which antibiotics should be prescribed for future chest infections.
- You will get blood tests to see if the doctors can work out why you have bronchiectasis though in around 50% no cause will be found. If a cause for the bronchiectasis is identified the treatment plan may be altered.
Given the range of tests it may take more than one visit to determine your diagnosis and to establish the correct treatment regime.
Will I have all these tests every time I attend the clinic?
Not all the tests are needed at each visit. But you will need to bring a sputum sample and have an assessment of blood oxygen levels. You may be asked to do breathing tests, a chest x-ray or blood tests.
Other tests may be taken on a less frequent basis at clinic visits.
You will also be asked the dates of when you had a chest infection needing antibiotics since your last visit. A wallet-sized bronchiectasis card is now available to record your chest infections and when they have occurred in the last 6 – 12 months (available at the bronchiectasis clinic).
