Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Guidelines For Measuring Vital Signs

Guidelines For Measuring Vital Signs

Following these guidelines can help nurses accurately measure vital signs, assess changes in patient conditions, and provide timely treatment when necessary. Adhering closely to the guidelines ensures the accuracy and reliability of the results.
Before taking a patient's vital signs, a nurse would consider and assess the patient's comfort level and ensure appropriate equipment is available.

Pre-Procedural Guidelines for Assessing Blood Pressure

Pre-Procedural Guidelines for Assessing Blood Pressure

Accurate blood pressure assessment is crucial for diagnosing and managing various health conditions. To ensure the reliability of these measurements, healthcare professionals must adhere to standardized pre-procedural guidelines. These guidelines enhance patient safety and improve the overall quality of healthcare. The following steps are essential for obtaining accurate and consistent blood pressure readings, from using the appropriate tools to ensuring effective communication with the...

Chemical Shift: Internal References and Solvent Effects

Chemical Shift: Internal References and Solvent Effects

In an NMR sample, precise measurement of the absolute absorption frequencies of nuclei is difficult. A standard internal reference compound is added, and the frequency difference between the reference signal and sample signals is measured.
The internal reference compound generally used in NMR spectroscopy is tetramethylsilane (TMS). TMS is preferred because it is chemically inert, soluble in NMR solvents, and easily removable. Also, the highly shielded methyl protons in TMS yield an intense...

Critical Values

Critical Values

A critical value is a definite value obtained from a particular probability distribution at a predecided confidence level (or a predecided significance level) for a given population parameter. The critical value provides demarcation that separates the sample statistics that are likely to occur from the ones that are unlikely to occur based on the given probability distribution and the population parameter to be estimated. The critical value for normal distribution is obtained from the z...

Drug Concentrations: Measurements

Drug Concentrations: Measurements

Drug concentration is the quantity of a drug present in a biological sample. Measuring drug amounts in biological samples allows the clinician to understand how a drug is absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and excreted. Samples can be obtained through invasive or non-invasive methods. Invasive techniques involve surgical or parenteral interventions to gather blood, cerebrospinal fluid, or tissue biopsy. Conversely, non-invasive approaches provide samples like urine, feces, and saliva.
Plasma...

Sensitivity, Specificity, and Predicted Value

Sensitivity, Specificity, and Predicted Value

In healthcare diagnostics, laboratory tests play a crucial role in identifying and diagnosing a wide range of medical conditions. However, interpreting test results is not always straightforward. An abnormal test result does not always confirm the presence of a disease, just as a normal result does not guarantee its absence. To assess the reliability of these diagnostic tools, healthcare practitioners rely on two key statistical indicators: sensitivity and specificity.
Sensitivity is the...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Standardising terminology in routine electronic health records for respiratory endpoints: why we still can't agree.

Thorax·2026

Same author

Applying spirometry phenotypes to a longitudinal cohort born very preterm.

BMJ open respiratory research·2026

Same author

ERS technical standard on reference values for cardiopulmonary exercise testing: summary report and a call for action.

The European respiratory journal·2026

Same author

Joint statement from GOLD/GLI regarding the use of spirometry to define airflow obstruction and diagnose COPD.

The European respiratory journal·2026

Same author

Impact of an Interdisciplinary Asthma Care Network on Emergency Department Visits and Hospitalizations.

Journal of asthma and allergy·2026

Same author

Author Reply: 'Is lung function in a race against time?'

Experimental physiology·2026

Same journal

Pneumonia Reimagined: Host, Microbe, and the Shifting Landscape of Disease.

Clinics in chest medicine·2026

Same journal

Advocacy in Pneumonia.

Clinics in chest medicine·2026

Same journal

Vaccines Against Pneumonia: Current Updates.

Clinics in chest medicine·2026

Same journal

Non-antibiotic Treatments for Pneumonia: Host-Directed Therapies, Next-Steps and Future Directions.

Clinics in chest medicine·2026

Same journal

Customizing Antibiotic Treatment for Pneumonia: Can We Have a Single Unified Algorithm for All Types of Pneumonia?

Clinics in chest medicine·2026

Same journal

The Role of Complex Digital Interventions to Improve Pneumonia Care.

Clinics in chest medicine·2026

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 12, 2025

Evaluation of a Point-of-Care Testing Analyzer for Measuring Peripheral Blood Leukocytes

Evaluation of a Point-of-Care Testing Analyzer for Measuring Peripheral Blood Leukocytes

Published on: March 22, 2022

Reference Values.

Cole Bowerman¹, Sanja Stanojevic²

¹Department of Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada; Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Dalhousie University, Centre for Clinical Research, 5790 University Avenue, Halifax, NSB3H 1V7, Canada.

Clinics in Chest Medicine

|August 6, 2025

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Interpreting lung function tests requires reference equations based on height, sex, and age. Previously used race-specific equations are no longer recommended due to potential harms outweighing benefits.

Keywords:

Lung function Normal range Pulmonary function test Reference values Spirometry

More Related Videos

Selected Reaction Monitoring Mass Spectrometry for Absolute Protein Quantification

Selected Reaction Monitoring Mass Spectrometry for Absolute Protein Quantification

Published on: August 17, 2015

Using Reference Reagents to Confirm Robustness of Cytokine Release Assays for the Prediction of Monoclonal Antibody Safety

Using Reference Reagents to Confirm Robustness of Cytokine Release Assays for the Prediction of Monoclonal Antibody Safety

Published on: September 15, 2023

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Sep 12, 2025

Evaluation of a Point-of-Care Testing Analyzer for Measuring Peripheral Blood Leukocytes

Evaluation of a Point-of-Care Testing Analyzer for Measuring Peripheral Blood Leukocytes

Published on: March 22, 2022

Selected Reaction Monitoring Mass Spectrometry for Absolute Protein Quantification

Selected Reaction Monitoring Mass Spectrometry for Absolute Protein Quantification

Published on: August 17, 2015

Using Reference Reagents to Confirm Robustness of Cytokine Release Assays for the Prediction of Monoclonal Antibody Safety

Using Reference Reagents to Confirm Robustness of Cytokine Release Assays for the Prediction of Monoclonal Antibody Safety

Published on: September 15, 2023

Area of Science:

Pulmonary Medicine
Clinical Physiology

Background:

Lung function testing is crucial for diagnosing respiratory conditions.
Interpretation of lung function measurements relies on established reference equations.
Reference equations use anthropometric data like height, sex, and age.

Purpose of the Study:

To explain the role of reference equations in interpreting lung function.
To discuss the exclusion of race and ethnicity from lung function reference equations.
To highlight the importance of understanding the limitations of these equations.

Main Methods:

Review of current guidelines and literature on lung function reference equations.
Analysis of the rationale for removing race/ethnicity as a determinant.
Discussion of the clinical implications of using updated reference equations.

Main Results:

Lung function reference equations are analogous to pediatric growth charts.
Height, sex, and age are key determinants in current reference equations.
Race and ethnicity are no longer recommended as determinants due to potential harms.

Conclusions:

Clinical interpretation of lung function requires careful consideration of reference equation methodology.
The exclusion of race-specific equations is based on ethical and scientific considerations.
Understanding the derivation and limitations of reference equations is essential for accurate patient assessment.