This one day course is ideal for all health professionals who desire a comprehensive course designed specifically for interpretation of spirometry tests. Several interpretative strategies will be discussed including those consistent with the American Thoracic Society (ATS) and European Respiratory Society (ERS). The strengths, weaknesses, pitfalls, and limitations of other strategies (GOLD, NICE, etc.) will also be discussed and compared. This class will distinguish spirometry parameters that are useful and not useful for interpretation. Practical tips for categorizing the severity of reduced lung function will be explored. Practice problems will be used to help the student recognize acceptable from unacceptable trials and when unacceptable maneuvers still have usable information. Examples of poorly administered and improperly performed tests will be presented to help students recognize poor subject effort, unacceptable maneuvers, limitations of equipment, which parameters provide useful information, and other factors that alter the interpretation algorithm. Students will also learn how to recognize the magnitude and direction of error introduced when less than ideal results are obtained.

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