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Reference values in pulmonary function testing are crucial because they provide a comparison point for interpreting an individual’s test results. These values are typically derived from a large population and take into account various demographic factors such as age, gender, height, and ethnicity. When a patient's test results are compared to these normative reference values, healthcare providers can assess whether the patient’s lung function is within the normal range or indicative of a pulmonary condition.

Using reference values allows clinicians to understand not just what the numbers indicate in isolation, but also how they relate to a larger population. For instance, a forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) result may appear low, but when compared against the reference values for a patient of the same age, height, and gender, the clinician can better evaluate whether the patient’s result signifies a true abnormality or is merely a variation within expected norms.

In contrast, eliminating the need for patient measurements would be impractical and counterproductive, as individual assessments are necessary to understand specific lung function. Creating a standardized treatment plan for all patients does not take into account their unique characteristics that reference values highlight, and ensuring that all tests are performed in the same environment does not directly aid in the interpretation of results relative to what is expected