Measurement of single-breath diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide: New standards of European respiratory society and American thoracic society (part 1)

This document is updated technical standards of European Respiratory Society (ERS) and American Thoracic Society (ATS) for single-breath carbon monoxide diffusing capacity measurement. The previous version of this document was published in 2005. Both terms used to describe the uptake of carbon monoxide in the lungs, DLCO (diffusing capacity) and TLCO (transfer factor), are equally valid, but the term DLCO is used in this document. The document was developed by joint ATS/ERS taskforce and was based on a survey of published evidence. Expert opinion was used for issues for which evidence was not available or was insufficient. Principal changes in the technical standards are related to new systems with rapidly responding gas analyzers for carbon monoxide.

Duke Scholars

Author Neil Ross MacIntyre Jr. Medicine, Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine