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Spirometry Testing
in San Mateo, CA

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Spirometry is an objective breathing test that measures how much air you can forcefully blow out of your lungs and how quickly you can blow it out. It is one of the most useful tests for identifying blockage of airflow through your bronchial airways associated with asthma and other respiratory conditions. Because lung function can sometimes be abnormal even when a physical examination is normal, spirometry frequently provides important information about your lung function that symptoms and examination alone may miss.
Spirometry is available at both our San Mateo and Daly City offices. Finding these changes early often means treatment works better, so you can move toward easier breathing with a clear, personalized plan.
Table Of Contents
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What Is Spirometry?
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What Can Spirometry Help Diagnose and Monitor?
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Who Can Benefit From Spirometry?
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Preparing for Spirometry
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The Spirometry Procedure
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After Your Spirometry Test
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Follow-Up
Recommendations
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Benefits of Spirometry
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Cost of Spirometry in San Mateo and Daly City, CA
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Accurate Lung Function Testing in San Mateo & Daly City
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Frequently Asked Questions
Patient performing spirometry test while healthcare provider in teal scrubs monitors results

What Is Spirometry?

Spirometry is a common, non-invasive lung function test. You breathe into a mouthpiece connected to a spirometer that records how much air you can forcefully blow out and how quickly that air moves.

Two very important measurements are FEV1, the amount of air you can forcefully exhale in the first second, and FVC, the total amount of air you can forcefully exhale. The relationship between these measurements helps us determine whether airflow is obstructed.

  • Objective measure of airflow – not a guess based on how you feel that day
  • Measures how well your lungs are functioning and can identify bronchial airflow changes associated with asthma and other respiratory conditions
  • Identifies potential issues that might not be apparent during a physical examination alone

What Can Spirometry Help Diagnose and Monitor?

Together with your symptoms, medical history, and examination, spirometry helps us diagnose and monitor:

  • Asthma: A chronic condition where airways narrow and swell, producing extra mucus

  • COPD and other airflow obstruction: Lung diseases that block airflow and make breathing difficult, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis

  • Chronic or persistent cough

  • Unexplained wheezing

  • Shortness of breath

  • Known respiratory disease: Tracking lung function over time

  • Response to treatment: Checking how well your airways respond to your current plan

Doctor examining a child's neck during a spirometry consultation while parent watches

Who Can Benefit From Spirometry?

Spirometry is appropriate for children (when they can follow blowing instructions), adults, and older patients who have allergy-related breathing symptoms or unexplained respiratory complaints. Our specialist will confirm whether the test is right for you during evaluation.

Consider testing if you notice:

  • Persistent coughing, including coughing that lingers at night or after exposure to pollen, pets, dust, or smoke.
  • Shortness of breath, especially during activity, laughing, or cold air.
  • Wheezing or chest tightness.
  • Excessive mucus production.
  • Recurrent respiratory infections or lingering colds that settle in the chest.
  • A feeling that you cannot get a full breath in or empty the lungs completely. 

Symptoms that come and go with seasons or specific environments are especially worth measuring. What feels like “just allergies” can already be affecting the lower airways.

Preparing for Spirometry

Spirometry requires very little preparation. Wear comfortable clothing that does not restrict your breathing and avoid eating a large meal immediately before the test. Continue your usual medications unless our office has given you different instructions. If you use an inhaler, we may give you specific instructions about whether to use it before your test. Please let us know if you are acutely ill or have recently developed a medical problem that might affect your ability to perform forceful breathing maneuvers.
If you are unsure whether to come in while you are ill, call the office before you travel:
Continue your usual medications unless our office has given you different instructions. If you use an inhaler, we may give you specific instructions about whether to use it before your test.

Any additional instructions that apply to you will be given to you directly by our office before your visit.

Please let us know if you are acutely ill or have recently developed a medical problem that might affect your ability to perform forceful breathing maneuvers.

Call (650) 343-4597

Child performing spirometry test, breathing into handheld device with nose clip

The Spirometry Procedure

Spirometry is performed in the office as part of an allergy and asthma visit and typically takes about 15–30 minutes. After check-in, our specialist reviews your medicines and symptoms, explains the mouthpiece and nose clip, and coaches you through practice breaths.
Same-day testing and treatment are available when clinically appropriate, so you may complete lung function testing during the same appointment as your evaluation. Several efforts are performed so that we can confirm that the results are technically acceptable and reproducible.
  1. Sit upright in a chair with feet on the floor.
  2. A nose clip is placed so that all air moves through the mouth.
  3. Place your mouth tightly around a disposable mouthpiece.
  4. Take a few easy breaths, then a maximal breath in, filling your lungs completely.
  5. On cue, exhale as hard and as fast as possible and continue until the lungs feel empty. This forceful exhalation is the most critical part of the test.
  6. You may be asked to inhale fully again to complete the loop.
  7. The effort is repeated until our team has enough quality trials.
Coaching is normal. Almost everyone needs a reminder to keep blowing. That extra second of effort is often where obstruction shows up.

After Your Spirometry Test

When the last effort is done, the nose clip comes off, and you can breathe normally. Staff will make sure any dizziness has settled before you stand. Your curves and predicted-value comparisons are reviewed in the context of your history – you should not leave wondering what the graph meant.

There is generally no special post-test care required.

  • Sit for a moment if you feel woozy; sip water.
  • If you received a bronchodilator, you may notice a faster heartbeat or jitteriness for a short time – expected effects of those medicines.
  • If wheeze or tightness increased with the forced blows, tell our team before you leave; additional observation may be appropriate.
Unless otherwise instructed, you can resume your regular diet, medications, work, school, driving, and activities the same day.
Young man breathing outdoors beneath trees, representing improved respiratory health after follow-up care

Follow-Up Recommendations

Our specialists will carefully review your results with you, explaining what they mean for your health. Follow-up depends on why you were tested.
  • New obstruction may lead to a controller plan, trigger evaluation, and a return visit to document improvement.
  • Stable, well-controlled asthma may only need periodic checks.
  • For patients with asthma, repeat spirometry may be useful when symptoms change, after significant treatment adjustments, or periodically to monitor control.
  • Bring prior printouts if you have been tested elsewhere.
Appointments are scheduled by calling (650) 343-4597; a scheduling call typically takes 5–10 minutes. Virtual visits are available for some follow-up conversations, but the blowing test itself is done in person.
Woman jogging outdoors in a park, smiling while running

Benefits of Spirometry

Unlike symptom reporting alone, spirometry provides objective data about your lung function. Combined with your symptoms and medical history, spirometry helps us determine whether airflow obstruction is present, assess its severity, and evaluate how well treatment is working. Here are the main benefits of spirometry:
  • Important for accurate diagnosis, especially for asthma and COPD, where symptoms can be vague or overlap with other issues.
  • Detailed insights allow our specialists to tailor medications, therapies, and lifestyle recommendations to your individual needs.
  • Noninvasive and repeatable – it can follow you through seasons, allergen peaks, sports, and medication changes.
  • Many patients feel more confident once they can see progress on paper, not only “feel a little better”.

Cost of Spirometry in San Mateo and Daly City, CA

Pricing varies by provider, how the visit is billed, your treatment plan, insurance coverage, and whether additional tests such as post-bronchodilator spirometry and full interpretation are included. For a precise quote tailored to your needs, call (650) 343-4597 before your visit.
Insurance Coverage Details
The Allergy and Asthma Clinic accepts most insurance plans, including Aetna, Anthem, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, UMR, Guardian, Health Net, Medicare, Great-West Healthcare, MultiPlan, PHCS, SEQUOIA, and TRICARE.
  • Please have your insurance details ready when you book; they are required if you are using coverage
  • We will help you understand your coverage and any potential out-of-pocket expenses
  • If your plan is not listed, our team will help explore options

No insurance? Customized payment plans, flexible financing, and other options are available. Our billing department can walk you through questions so that the cost is clear before you visit our clinic

Dr. Andrew C. Engler, allergist and immunologist at The Allergy and Asthma Clinic

Accurate Lung Function Testing in San Mateo & Daly City

Our clinic brings over 30 years of specialized Bay Area experience to your lung health evaluation. Our physicians interpret spirometry in the context of your symptoms, examination, medical history, and potential allergic or environmental triggers.
We deliver a straightforward, clinical approach focused on specific diagnoses and actionable treatment plans. For your convenience, same-day testing is available alongside both in-person and virtual appointment options across our San Mateo and Daly City locations. Your physician will review your results with you and explain the next steps.
You can complete testing at either office:
San Mateo Office
Daly City Office
Ready to measure what is happening in your lungs – and do something about it?
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Frequently Asked Questions

No. It simply requires you to breathe into a mouthpiece as instructed. There are no needles in the test itself. Some individuals might feel briefly winded, lightheaded, or tired from the forceful breathing, but this sensation is temporary.
A spirometry test usually takes about 15 to 30 minutes from start to finish, including preparation and the actual breathing. The procedure can be longer if a bronchodilator comparison is included.
Home peak flow captures one number. Office spirometry records full curves, multiple parameters, predicted-value comparisons, and, when indicated, response to bronchodilator – under coaching that improves quality.
Yes. Spirometry can be performed on children who can understand and follow “big breath in, blast out, keep going” instructions. Our team has extensive experience in pediatric allergy and asthma care.
There is no single schedule for everyone. For patients with asthma, repeat spirometry may be useful when symptoms change, after significant treatment adjustments, or periodically to monitor control. Your specialist will recommend a schedule that fits your condition.
Yes. Spirometry is one type of pulmonary function test (PFT), also commonly called a lung function test. Pulmonary function testing is a broader term and can include additional tests that measure lung volumes or how well gases move from the lungs into the blood.
Spirometry measures how much air you can forcefully blow out of your lungs and how quickly you can blow it out. Although people sometimes refer to spirometry as a “lung capacity test,” spirometry does not measure your total lung capacity. More extensive pulmonary function testing is required to measure certain lung volumes.
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First and foremost let me start by saying that these people did one hell of a job figuring out my sinus problems. When I first arrived there, I explained what was going on with me having excessive inflammation in the sinus…after they tested me, I found out that I was being exposed to dust mites which gave me a strong reaction. I followed the doctors guides lines in terms of cleaning my room and ever since, my sinus inflammation went away for good and now I have a healthy sinus. Thank you for everything.

- Johnathon T
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Dr. Engler is great and his staff, both medical and administrative, are wonderful. Dr. Engler is competent, caring, and listens better than any doctor I’ve ever had, constantly and patiently asking if I have any more questions. The staff is great. The nurses are very friendly and helpful. The desk staff is the same. I have been going here over a year and have always received caring and competent treatment. I highly recommend them.
- Tom B
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Hands down the best place to go for Allergies and Asthma. The staff is incredibly kind and caring and so professional and helpful. I’ve been going here for over 30 years and they have gone out of their way countless times to make sure that I was well-cared-for. The nurses are excellent and always make sure to ask how my family is doing not to mention that they give the most painless allergy shots around. They remember little details about me and always make sure to give me a lollipop for my son, even when he’s not with me. Brooke is a great diagnostician and listener and each time I have an appointment with her, I always leave feeling better. The same is true for Dr. Engler.

My 10 year old son also has allergies and asthma and the staff makes sure that he feels well taken care of and comfortable, despite his having Autism and ADHD. He actually looks forward to going there with me, whether it be for my allergy shots or even when he needed allergy skin testing. When you’re a patient at the Allergy and Asthma clinic, you are treated as if you are the only patient they have, even when the waiting room is full. Dr. Engler has hired truly excellent staff, from the front desk people to the nurses and medical assistants. If you have allergies and/or asthma and you live on the Peninsula or even in the city, I highly recommend that you visit the Allergy and Asthma Clinic. They are truly amazing and will make you feel so much better.

-Sandi S.
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I had an amazing experience at this clinic. Dr. Engler and the staff were all extremely welcoming, warm, and thorough in their various lanes of work from the front desk to billing to the assistants to Dr. Engler himself.
One thing I wish I knew before coming in was that the food test covers 80 allergens, and the environmental test covers 80 allergens meaning if you want to do both you need to come two separate days. This is kind of a hassle but definitely worth it since you’ll be tested for 160 allergens whereas most clinics only test 80 total.
Through the tests I figured out what I was allergic to and was advised to use an over the counter medication which has drastically helped and eliminated the symptoms I was experiencing. Dr. Engler also covered all the things I needed to do to reduce my symptoms via my lifestyle which was super helpful with my symptom reduction as well. I’d highly recommend this clinic! Insurance covered the tests and visits. (I have anthem blue cross)
-Christina L
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I’ve been a patient at The Allergy and Asthma Clinic for over 12 years, and I can’t speak highly enough of the care I’ve received. Growing up with severe pollen allergies, I’ve been on and off allergy shots for years, and this clinic has truly been a lifesaver for me.
From the moment you walk in, you’re treated like family. The staff is incredibly kind, caring, and genuinely invested in your well-being. I have never had a negative experience with anyone here; everyone is consistently friendly and supportive.
Dr. Engler is exceptional! He has a remarkable ability to quickly and effectively address any situation. His expertise and compassionate approach have made a significant difference in managing my allergies.
If you’re struggling with allergies or asthma, this is the place to go. I wholeheartedly recommend The Allergy and Asthma Clinic to anyone seeking top-notch care.
-Trevor C