A new joint ERS / ATS task force, published in the European Respiratory Journal, sets out updated recommendations for the practical application of the single-breath determination of nitric oxide uptake in the lung.
The task force panel was assembled to tackle important methodological considerations for the measurement of pulmonary diffusing capacity for nitric oxide (DL,NO), so that its measurement and interpretation of the results could be standardised.
The document sets out the need to allow mixing and measurement of both nitric oxide (NO) and carbon monoxide (CO) gases directly from an inspiratory reservoir just before use, the acceptable parameters for breath hold time, necessary concentrations of ppm, and other important aspects essential to testing pulmonary diffusing capacity for nitric oxide.