Faster results for Central Australia’s lung health
Alice Springs Hospital has upgraded its lung testing, bringing more tests, faster results and care closer to home for people across Central Australia.
This step forward supports earlier detection, better monitoring and more tailored treatment without the long trips.
What's new
The ASH Lung Function Laboratory now includes a plethysmograph - a booth that measures how well the lungs move air and a FeNO breathing device - a quick, non‑invasive check of airway inflammation.
In simple terms, the team now gets clearer and quicker information about how your lungs are working.
Why it matters
We can now run a broader range of tests locally, including:
- airway inflammation checks to support asthma diagnosis
- airway sensitivity or challenge tests
- respiratory muscle assessments
- more detailed lung volume and airflow measurements.
These tests help clinicians confirm or rule out conditions sooner, fine‑tune medicines, and track how well treatments are working.
A portable device also supports bedside testing for people who can't easily move and can travel to communities to understand how local environments affect airways. The upgrade brings our respiratory testing in line with other states and territories, saving patients time, travel and out‑of‑pocket costs.
Oliver Stokes, senior respiratory scientist at Alice Springs Hospital said. 'We’ve been able to perform routine lung function testing for some years, but now it’s really exciting to have access to more specialised tests in the form of FeNO testing, bronchial challenge testing, and respiratory muscle assessments.'
