Pulmonary Function Labs: Testing Supplies and Hygiene Routines

The spirometry room at a Canadian diagnostic clinic sees fifteen patients a day, from asthma follow-ups to pre-operative assessments. Each patient breathes into the same mouthpiece assembly, and each exhalation is a potential route for droplet transmission. Pulmonary function testing (PFT) creates a unique infection control challenge: the equipment is expensive, sensitive, and positioned directly at the patient's airway. The supplies around that equipment determine whether the lab stays safe, accurate, and compliant.

Why PFT Labs Have Their Own Hygiene Rules

Spirometry and related tests force patients to exhale forcefully, generating more droplets and aerosols than normal breathing. Professional societies have long recommended filters, regular equipment disinfection, and careful hand hygiene between patients. In Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada's routine practices set the baseline for preventing transmission in clinical settings, and respiratory labs layer additional precautions beyond that baseline because of the aerosol-generating nature of the tests.

Single-Use Supplies at the Point of Testing

Mouthpieces, nose clips, and filters are the front line of PFT hygiene. Wherever the manufacturer and your infection control policy allow, use single-use items and discard them after each patient. For equipment that must be reused, such as the spirometer tubing in some systems, follow the manufacturer's validated reprocessing instructions, including the correct disinfectant and contact time.

Between patients, the surface where the patient places hands, the chair arms, and the counter beside the spirometer all need cleaning. Hospital-grade disinfectant wipes are practical for these surfaces. Choose a wipe with a DIN number and follow the label's stated contact time; a quick pass with a damp cloth does not disinfect.

Gloves and Hand Hygiene in the Testing Room

Technologists handle mouthpieces, filters, and contaminated equipment throughout the day. Powder-free nitrile gloves protect both the staff member and the next patient. Change gloves between patients and after any task that involves contact with respiratory secretions. Gloves are not a substitute for hand hygiene; the lab should have hand sanitizer at the door and sinks available nearby.

When stocking the PFT room, keep a box of nitrile exam gloves inside the room, not down the hall, so the technologist does not leave a patient mid-test to find a new pair. Multiple sizes matter: a glove that fits poorly reduces dexterity when assembling small filter pieces.

Cleaning Between Patients: A Practical Sequence

A consistent room turnaround routine keeps the lab safe without slowing the schedule:

• Remove and discard single-use mouthpiece, filter, and nose clips
• Wipe the spirometer exterior, chair arms, and counter with a disinfectant wipe
• Follow the labeled contact time before the next patient touches the surface
• Change gloves and perform hand hygiene
• Set up fresh single-use supplies for the next patient

Posters or a laminated checklist in the room help relief staff follow the same sequence. In a busy lab, the difference between a thorough turnaround and a rushed one is visible within a week of respiratory season.

Stocking for Accuracy and Safety

PFT results are only as reliable as the equipment calibration and the patient's effort, but supply shortages can still force unsafe shortcuts. Running out of filters is the classic failure: staff begin reusing filters or testing without them, which contaminates equipment and compromises results. Keep a two-week buffer of single-use items during respiratory season, and track usage so reorder happens before the box is empty.

For labs that also perform methacholine challenge or bronchodilator testing, the nebulizer cups and related disposables follow their own single-use rules. Individually wrapped surgical masks should be available for patients who are coughing or who need to leave the room mid-test, and for staff during aerosol-generating procedures.

Documenting Your Lab's Infection Control

Provincial regulators and accreditation bodies expect a written infection control policy for the PFT lab. Document the cleaning schedule, the products used (including DIN numbers), the reprocessing steps for reusable equipment, and the training record for staff. When an inspector asks how you prevent cross-contamination between patients, the answer should point to the policy, not to a vague habit.

Clinics monitoring every sterilizer load can start with the CliniEco biological indicator 5-pack trial: five 24-hour indicators for CA $12.99 with shipping included.

Related Reading

• Dental Infection Control: Surface Disinfection Best Practices
• PHAC Routine Practices: How Canadian Clinics Apply the Guidelines
• CliniEco learning hub for clinic supply guides

Frequently Asked Questions

What supplies are needed for spirometry infection control?

Single-use mouthpieces, filters, and nose clips, plus gloves, disinfectant wipes for surfaces, and hand sanitizer. Reusable components are reprocessed according to the manufacturer's validated instructions.

How often should the spirometry room be cleaned?

High-touch surfaces should be cleaned between every patient. A full room cleaning, including floors and less-accessible surfaces, is typically done daily and whenever visible soiling occurs.

Do PFT labs need special masks?

Individually wrapped surgical masks are practical for patients who cough during testing and for staff performing aerosol-generating procedures. Mask requirements may be higher during respiratory outbreaks, following the facility's current policy.

Last updated: September 2026. CliniEco Medical is a licensed medical device establishment (MDEL #35334).