Question 1

An adult male subject has the following measurements made:  What DLCO value should be reported?

Accepted Answer

A)  9.1 ml CO/min /mm Hg STPD 
B)  10.6 ml CO/min/mm Hg STPD 
C)  12.6 ml CO/min/mm Hg STPD 
D)  13.3 ml CO/min/mm Hg STPD

Question 2

The following data are obtained from an 80-year-old male subject complaining of shortness of breath:  Which of the following interpretations is most consistent with the data?

Accepted Answer

A)  Emphysema 
B)  Bronchitis 
C)  Pulmonary fibrosis 
D)  Asthma

Question 3

Which of the following DLCO methods is deemed to provide the most accurate measurement of diffusion?

Accepted Answer

A)  DLCOrb 
B)  Membrane diffusing capacity 
C)  DLCOsb 
D)  DLCOib

Question 4

Which of the following statements is correct regarding DLCO adjustments?

Accepted Answer

A)  Anemia will cause the DLCO values to be higher. 
B)  Altitude will lower DLCO. 
C)  Smoking will falsely increase DLCO. 
D)  Polycythemia will increase the DLCO.

Question 5

Which of the following DLCO methods is best suited to measuring diffusing capacity during exercise?

Accepted Answer

A)  DLCOsb 
B)  DLCO membrane 
C)  DLCOrb 
D)  Membrane conductance

Question 6

Why is CO an ideal gas for measuring diffusing capacity of the lungs?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is taken up by Hb in a manner similar to O2. 
B)  It is always present in capillary blood at 0.3%. 
C)  It is quickly converted to CO2 in the lungs. 
D)  It does not react with He or other tracer gases.

Question 7

A Valsalva maneuver during the DLCOsb:

Accepted Answer

A)  Is required to properly perform the breath hold 
B)  May cause the DL/VA to appear artificially elevated 
C)  May cause the DLCOsb to appear artificially reduced 
D)  Helps keep breath-hold time between 8 and 12 seconds

Question 8

Diffusing capacity is reduced in emphysema because of which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  Loss of alveolar surface area 
B)  Engorgement of pulmonary capillaries 
C)  Dynamic airway compression 
D)  Elevated pulmonary arterial pressure

Question 9

A subject performs the following two DLCO maneuvers:  What should the technologist do next?

Accepted Answer

A)  Data are not acceptable;perform another maneuver. 
B)  Data are repeatable;report the mean of two results. 
C)  Data are repeatable;report the largest value from maneuver #2. 
D)  Data are acceptable and repeatable;report the mean of the two results.

Question 10

The pressure gradient for the diffusion of CO in the lung is:

Accepted Answer

A)  Equivalent to the partial pressure of inspired CO 
B)  The difference between inspired and expired CO 
C)  Equal to the alveolar minus capillary partial pressure of CO 
D)  Equal to the alveolar-arterial O2 gradient

Question 11

In a healthy subject,what are the ATS-ERS recommended washout volume and sample volumes?

Accepted Answer

A)  Washout volume 0.75-1.0 L and sample volume 0.5-1.0 L 
B)  Washout volume 1.0 L and sample volume 0.25 L 
C)  Washout volume 0.5 L and sample volume 0.25 L 
D)  Washout volume 1.0-1.5 L and sample volume 0.5-1.5 L

Question 12

What does the abbreviation DM represent?

Accepted Answer

A)  Diffusion membrane 
B)  Diffusion mean 
C)  Membrane conductance 
D)  Membrane resistance

Question 13

The following DLCO data (reported in ml CO/min/mm Hg)are obtained from a subject:  What should the technologist do next?

Accepted Answer

A)  Report the mean of all three trials. 
B)  Perform another maneuver. 
C)  Report the mean of the second and third trials. 
D)  Report the third trial only.

Exam 3: Diffusing Capacity Tests

An adult male subject has the following measurements made: What DLCO value should be reported?

The following data are obtained from an 80-year-old male subject complaining of shortness of breath: Which of the following interpretations is most consistent with the data?

Which of the following DLCOmethods is deemed to provide the most accurate measurement of diffusion?