Why do I need a DCLO or diffusion capacity lung test?

Why do I need a DCLO or diffusion capacity lung test?

Richard Sheldon (Medical Advisor to the CA State Respiratory Care Board) gives expert video advice on: Why would my doctor order peak flow testing?; How is a DCLO or diffusion capacity test performed? and more...

The reason for taking a diffusion capacity test would be to help you establish the health of the alveolar-capillary membrane. The standard pulmonary function test in almost all pulmonary function labs that a pulmonologist will run, or order tests to be performed at, includes diffusion capacity in the test. If you are getting your test done simply in a primary care physician's or a general practitioner's office, he won't have the machinery available to him and the testing devices available to him to do a diffusion capacity. But if a full pulmonary function test is done, diffusion capacity is part of that test, always.