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COPD can not be detected before irreversible lung damage has occurred. But the earlier it is detected, the sooner steps can be taken to modify further damage. When you first see your doctor, he or she will ask about your symptoms and medical history and will perform a physical exam. The history and physical exam provide the most important information that is used for the diagnosis of COPD.

If your doctor suspects you might have COPD, you may undergo one or more of the following tests:

Pulmonary (Lung) Function Tests

Many tests of lung function have been developed, and each provides slightly different information about how well your lungs are working. Pulmonary function tests are painless, noninvasive tests that are performed using a machine called a spirometer. By breathing into the spirometer under certain conditions, the doctor can measure your lung volume and your ability to move air in and out of your lungs in a certain period of time. Your results are compared with typical findings of a healthy person your age and height, and the doctor can then determine to what extent your lung function is diminished. Sometimes, tests are repeated after you have been given a bronchodilator medication, to see if your results improve with this type of treatment.

Pulmonary function measures include:



Total Lung Capacity (TLC) —This is the total amount of air the lungs are capable of holding and is the combination of FVC and RV.

Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 Second (FEV1) —This measures the volume of air that can be forcibly exhaled in one second and represents the rate of air movement out of the lungs. FEV1 typically declines a very small amount per year in normal persons, but the decline can be several times over the expected in people with COPD.

Carbon Monoxide Diffusing Capacity

This test measures how well your lungs transfer a small amount of carbon monoxide gas into your blood. You take a breath of air containing a very small amount of carbon monoxide from a container, and the amount of carbon monoxide in your exhaled air or arterial blood is then measured.


A sensor on your finger is used to acquire quick, basic information about the amount of oxygen in your blood. More detailed measurements are provided by the blood test called an arterial blood gas.

Arterial Blood Gases

Arterial blood gases determine the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide in your bloodstream. This test requires that a blood sample be removed from one of your arteries, usually in the wrist, but sometimes in the groin. It is done more often in an emergency room or hospital setting for someone who appears more seriously ill.

Chest X-ray

A chest x-ray provides a picture of the heart, lungs, bones, and soft tissues in the chest, as well as the blood vessels associated with them.

Computed Tomography (CT) Scan

This test provides a detailed x-ray of the lungs and can be useful in assessing the extent of lung damage associated with COPD.

Levels of Alpha-1-Antitrypsin

This blood test measures levels of alpha-1-antitrypsin, which is an important protein that helps protect the lungs from damage due to inflammation. Persons who develop COPD at an early age or who develop the disease but never smoked may have abnormally low levels of this protein due to a genetic defect.






Last reviewed October 2012 by Brian Randall, MD

Last updated Updated: 10/11/2012

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