Asthma Exams and Tests There are several asthma tests your
doctor may use to make an asthma diagnosis such as lung (or
pulmonary) function tests (spirometer, or peak flow meter) which
measure lung function. Other asthma tests determine if you are
allergic to specific foods, pollen, or other particles. Blood
tests give a picture of your overall health; specific tests also
measure levels of immunoglobulin E (IgE), a key antibody that's
released during an allergic reaction. Your doctor may perform an
X-ray exam of you in order to visualize the structures inside
your chest, including the heart, lungs, and bones. By viewing
your lungs, your doctor can see if asthma is causing your
symptoms. While a chest X-ray is not an asthma test, it may also
be used to make sure nothing else is causing your asthma
symptoms. All of these asthma tests help your doctor determine
if asthma is indeed present and if there are other coexisting
conditions with asthma, such as allergies, GERD, or sinusitis.
Once a proper asthma diagnosi