Other methods that are not so widely used at present can measure the diffusing capacity.

In response to higher altitude, the body's diffusing capacity increases in order to process more air.

The single-breath diffusing capacity test is the most common way to determine .

Diffusing capacity provides an estimate of how well a gas is able to move from your lungs into your blood.

For this reason, CO is generally the test gas used to measure the diffusing capacity and the equation simplifies to:

Similarly, an association between pleural plaques and a restrictive impairment with diminished diffusing capacity on pulmonary function testing has been described.

Single-breath diffusing capacity can help differentiate asthma from COPD.

These patients should be followed with pulmonary function testing, including the diffusing capacity of carbon monoxide and ratio of residual volume to total lung capacity.

Diffusing capacity (DLCO)

Diffusing capacity (or DLCO) is the carbon monoxide uptake from a single inspiration in a standard time (usually 10 sec).

Finally, the diffusing capacity does not directly measure the primary cause of hypoxemia, or low blood oxygen, namely mismatch of ventilation to perfusion:

DPT has a significant impact on pulmonary function, causing a decrease in forced vital capacity, reducing total lung capacity and diffusing capacity.

The most frequent pulmonary function abnormality finding in patients with pulmonary LCH is a reduced carbon monoxide diffusing capacity in 70% to 90% of cases.

While the term diffusing capacity is retained in the United States for reasons of historical continuity, terminology using transfer factor is now preferred in Europe and elsewhere.

These include the steady state diffusing capacity that is performed during regular tidal breathing, or the rebreathing method that requires rebreathing from a reservoir of gas mixtures.

Thus, the higher the diffusing capacity , the more gas will be transferred into the lung per unit time for a given gradient in partial pressure (or concentration) of the gas.

The diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) is invariably reduced in IPF and may be the only abnormality in mild or early disease.

Measurement of the single-breath diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) is a fast and safe tool in the evaluation of both restrictive and obstructive lung disease.

Common functional abnormalities of this condition include reductions in forced vital capacity (FVC), carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (DLCO), and oxygen partial pressure.

Carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (also called transfer factor, or TF), which measures how well your lungs transfer a small amount of carbon monoxide (CO) into the blood.

Diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO) may be tested to differentiate emphysema from other types of obstructive disorders such as chronic bronchitis and asthma.

Note than some species of small bats have a higher mean total morphometric pulmonary diffusing capacity for oxygen than equivalent weight birds but this is the exception and is not the rule.

D or T (Diffusing capacity or Transfer factor of the lung for carbon monoxide,) is the extent to which oxygen passes from the air sacs of the lungs into the blood.

Discussion This study did not reveal significant differences between HTLV-I or -II infected and uninfected persons in pulmonary function or diffusing capacity, after adjustment for confounding variables.

Diffusing capacity (DL) is the part of a comprehensive series of tests (the pulmonary function tests) that is done to determine the overall ability of the lung to transport gas into and out of the blood.