Pulmonary function test is a test applying respiratory physiology knowledge and modern examination technology to examine and explore the functional state of human respiratory system. Clinically the frequently used examination methods include pulmonary capacity examination, pulmometer examination, bronchial provocation test, bronchial dilation test, pulmonary diffusion function examination, airway resistance examination and cardiopulmonary function examination. The pulmonary function test is an important method clinically for the diagnosis of lung disease, evaluation of its seriousness, treatment effect and prognosis, which has been widely applied in respiratory internal medicine and surgery, anesthesiology, pediatrics, diving and aerospace medicine.

In China, the research and clinical application of pulmonary function test has a history over 70 years in China. With the development of computer technology and improvement of medical research in China, the research of respiratory physiology has achieved a great progress. The pulmonary examination apparatus has been upgraded, the measurement technology has been improved, the test items have increased and the scope of application has been expanded all the time. However, compared with examinations such as liver functions and kidney functions, the popularization rate of pulmonary function examination is rather low in China, particularly in under-developed regions and grassroots hospitals. Meanwhile, according to the surveying results in recent years, the quality control and regulation standards are fairly unbalanced among the hospitals that have practiced pulmonary function test, which has seriously restrained the clinical application and development of pulmonary function technology. In recent years, experts of pulmonary function keep calling for strengthening quality control of pulmonary function test in China.

In order to draw attention to pulmonary function test and its quality control and promote the popularization and regulation of pulmonary function test technology in China, Professor Zheng Jingping of the State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease organized all members of the pulmonary function team of the respiratory medicine branch of Chinese Medical Association to discuss and draft the first Guide to Pulmonary Function Test of China. The series guide comprises eight parts and one appendix: (1) Introduction and general requirements of pulmonary function test; (2) pulmometer examination; (3) bronchial provocation test; (4) bronchial dilation test; (5) pulmonary diffusion function examination; (6) pulmonary capacity examination; (7) airway resistance examination; (8) cardiopulmonary function examination. Appendix: Frequently used abbreviations in pulmonary function test and their Chinese and English names. Other examinations will be introduced and released according to the actual situation, such as the six-minute walking test, the nitric oxide concentration test of exhaled air, exercise cardiopulmonary function test and the breath vibration imaging examination. The series guide was published in different issues of Chinese Journal of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases from June 2014.