Certified Pulmonary Function Technologist (CPFT) Practice Exam

If a patient had a recent viral infection, what is the recommended action?

1. Perform the test immediately

2. Re-schedule test in 3 weeks

3. Conduct a different type of examination

4. Proceed with the test as planned

The correct answer is: Re-schedule test in 3 weeks

In the case of a patient who has had a recent viral infection, it is important to consider the impact that respiratory illness can have on pulmonary function testing. After a viral infection, patients may experience residual effects such as inflammation, increased airway responsiveness, and overall decreased pulmonary function. These factors can lead to results that do not accurately reflect the patient's baseline respiratory status. Therefore, rescheduling the test for approximately three weeks allows time for the patient to recover fully and for any residual effects of the viral infection to resolve. In this context, performing the test immediately would not be appropriate, as it could yield misleading results due to the lingering effects of the infection. Conducting a different type of examination does not address the need for accurate pulmonary function testing once the patient has appropriately recovered. Additionally, proceeding with the test as planned could result in compromised data that may misguide clinical management and treatment decisions. Thus, allowing adequate recovery time is essential for obtaining reliable and valid test results.