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Respiratory · London

Private spirometry & lung function tests in London, read by a respiratory physician.

The definitive breath-based tests that measure how well your lungs work - from simple spirometry to full pulmonary function studies. Reported against modern age/sex/ethnicity reference values.

A stethoscope on a clinical desk

Indicative pricing

What private spirometry and lung function testing cost in London.

Indicative ranges across UK private providers.

In short

£120–£250; full PFTs £350–£650.

Test Indicative range
Simple spirometry £120–£250
Spirometry with bronchodilator reversibility £180–£350
Full pulmonary function tests (PFTs) £350–£650
FeNO breath test £80–£180
6-minute walk test £150–£300
Cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) £600–£1,100

Prices vary by clinic, which studies are included, and whether a consultant review is arranged on the day.

The problem

The right breathing test is not always the obvious one.

Simple spirometry answers most asthma and COPD questions. But restrictive disease needs lung volumes and DLCO, and exertional breathlessness needs CPET. Matching the study to the question is the entire job.

  • Breathless on exertion only?

    A resting spirometry may look normal - CPET is the definitive study for exercise-induced dyspnoea.

  • Suspected asthma?

    Reversibility testing combined with FeNO gives the highest diagnostic yield.

  • Want a physician to read it?

    Some clinics have a consultant respiratory physician report the study, rather than software alone - worth asking about.

What it shows

Find the test that matches your indication.

Respiratory symptoms differ enormously in pattern. These are the questions most often asked.

  • Asthma diagnosis & monitoring

    Reversibility on spirometry, supported by FeNO, confirms asthma and tracks control.

  • COPD diagnosis & staging

    A post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC below 0.70 confirms COPD; FEV1 grades severity.

  • Restrictive lung disease

    Reduced lung volumes and DLCO point to fibrosis, sarcoidosis or chest-wall disease.

  • Obstructive vs restrictive pattern

    Distinguishes the two - the essential first branch in any breathlessness workup.

  • Unexplained breathlessness on exertion

    CPET separates lung, heart, circulatory and deconditioning causes in one test.

  • Occupational lung disease

    Baseline and serial testing for workplace exposure - dust, isocyanates, welding fume.

  • Pre-operative fitness assessment

    Quantifies lung reserve before major thoracic, upper GI or vascular surgery.

  • Red flags

    Sudden severe breathlessness, chest pain or blue lips is an emergency - call 999.

Lung tests

Not all lung tests are the same.

What each option on your referral is actually for.

  • Simple spirometry (FEV1, FVC)

    The basic manoeuvre: forced blow measures airflow and volume. Quick, cheap, widely useful.

  • Post-bronchodilator reversibility

    Repeat spirometry after inhaled salbutamol - the standard test for asthma reversibility.

  • Full PFTs (with lung volumes and DLCO)

    Body plethysmography for total lung capacity, plus DLCO for gas transfer across the alveoli.

  • FeNO (nitric oxide)

    Measures eosinophilic airway inflammation - supports asthma diagnosis and steroid response.

  • Peak flow monitoring

    A home meter used to track diurnal variation and asthma control between clinic visits.

  • 6-minute walk test

    A functional measure of exercise tolerance and desaturation - useful in fibrosis and COPD.

  • Cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET)

    Integrated exercise study with ECG and gas analysis - the definitive test for exertional dyspnoea.

  • Bronchial challenge / methacholine test

    Provokes airway narrowing to confirm or exclude asthma when spirometry is normal.

Safety and eligibility

Painless, non-invasive - but effort-dependent.

Spirometry and PFTs are extremely safe. Good results depend on maximum effort, correct inhaler timing and clear pre-test instructions - all handled for you.

  • Painless & non-invasive

    You simply breathe through a mouthpiece - nothing is put into your body.

  • Requires forceful blowing effort

    Good results depend on maximal effort. The physiologist coaches you through each attempt.

  • Hold usual inhalers unless told otherwise

    Short-acting bronchodilators are usually withheld before a reversibility test - follow the instructions sent with your appointment.

  • Caffeine avoided beforehand

    Coffee, tea and cola can affect airway tone - please avoid on the morning of the test.

  • Brief dizziness or cough is common

    Rapid forced exhalation can cause a short cough or light-headedness. It passes within seconds.

  • Recent MI or unstable angina

    CPET may be deferred until the cardiology team confirms it is safe to exercise maximally.

  • Pregnancy is fine

    Spirometry and PFTs are safe in pregnancy. CPET is usually postponed until after delivery.

  • Children

    Reliable results need a paediatric-experienced physiologist.

  • Avoid a heavy meal 2h before CPET

    Exercising hard on a full stomach is uncomfortable. Water and a light snack are fine.

Reading your report

A lung function report can look intimidating. It isn’t.

Whether a simple spirometry trace or a full PFT with DLCO, the report keeps to the same four parts.

A UK consultant respiratory physician reviewing a lung function report

A quiet reminder

Normal numbers do not always mean nothing is wrong - the pattern matters as much as the values.

If anything in it is unclear, ask your respiratory physician or GP to talk you through it at your follow-up.

  1. 01 Header

    Your details and the indication

    Your details, which tests were performed, and the clinical question they were meant to answer.

  2. 02 Technique

    Which tests, meeting ATS/ERS quality

    Confirms acceptability and repeatability of every manoeuvre against international standards.

  3. 03 Findings

    The numbers, versus predicted

    FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC ratio, DLCO where done - each compared with modern reference values.

  4. 04 Impression

    The conclusion: read this first

    Normal, obstructive, restrictive or mixed - with severity and reversibility. Read this first.

Recognised by major UK insurers

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Frequently asked

Common questions about spirometry and PFTs.

Quick answers on cost, referrals, inhaler timing, safety and results.

  • How do I prepare for a spirometry test and what will it tell my doctor?

    Avoid short-acting inhalers for four hours and long-acting ones for 12 hours before, don’t smoke or exercise heavily on the day, and wear something loose around the chest. The test measures FVC and FEV1, and the ratio tells your respiratory doctor whether your airways are obstructed (asthma, COPD), restricted, or normal - it’s the foundation of every respiratory diagnosis and available in London within days from about £180.

  • How much does a private spirometry test cost in London?

    Simple spirometry is typically £120–£250, and £180–£350 with bronchodilator reversibility. Full PFTs range £350–£650 and CPET £600–£1,100.

  • Do I need a referral?

    Most spirometry and lung function testing accepts self-referral.

  • What is the difference between spirometry and full PFTs?

    Spirometry measures airflow and volume with a single forced blow. Full PFTs add body plethysmography (total lung capacity) and gas transfer (DLCO) - essential when restrictive disease, fibrosis or emphysema is suspected.

  • When is a FeNO test helpful?

    FeNO measures nitric oxide in your exhaled breath - a marker of eosinophilic airway inflammation. It supports asthma diagnosis, predicts steroid response and helps monitor control alongside spirometry.

  • Will my inhalers affect the results?

    Short-acting bronchodilators are usually withheld for a few hours before a reversibility test so the response can be measured properly. Long-acting inhalers may need pausing for longer. Exact instructions are normally sent with the appointment.

  • Is CPET safe?

    Yes, when the right patients are selected. It is fully supervised with continuous ECG and blood pressure monitoring, and stopped immediately if you feel unwell. Recent heart attack or unstable angina is a temporary contraindication.

  • How long will the results take?

    Simple spirometry and FeNO are often reviewed the same day. Full PFTs take 24–72 hours; CPET reports take 3–7 days because of the volume of exercise data to analyse.

  • Will my insurance cover it?

    Most policies cover lung function testing when clinically indicated and pre-authorised.

  • Do I also need a chest X-ray or CT scan?

    Often, yes. Spirometry shows how the lungs work; imaging shows what they look like. A chest X-ray or HRCT is commonly arranged alongside PFTs when structural disease is suspected.

Related content

Looking for something else?

In practice, in London

How spirometry tends to unfold when you go private

With spirometry, the London question is usually about report turnaround and the radiologist reading it - not whether the scan is available. Public provision for spirometry is competent but constrained by capacity. Private London clinics tend to have shorter diaries and longer appointment slots, so you get the same specialists with more time. For people who’ve been going round in circles with primary care, that first proper conversation is often what shifts things.

A typical private booking for spirometry in London starts with a consultant conversation - sometimes in person on Harley Street or Marylebone, sometimes on video if that suits better. Any imaging or diagnostics happen at a nearby CQC-registered facility, and reports usually land within 24 to 72 hours. The whole loop, from first call to written report, is often done inside a fortnight. For spirometry specifically, the difference between a routine report and a sub-speciality read is where private care earns its keep.

It is worth asking which consultant reads this particular presentation, how quickly the unit turns reports around, and what the onward pathway is if the findings point somewhere unexpected.