Key Facts:
- TSANZ releases new national spirometry standards to improve testing quality and consistency across Australian primary care settings.
- Three core documents have been released, covering technical standards, training requirements, and accreditation guidelines for spirometry services.
- Standards aim to address variability in training, testing quality and interpretation, which has been identified as a barrier to accurate respiratory diagnosis.
- The guidelines replace the 2022 TSANZ standards and align with international standards while being tailored specifically for Australian primary care settings.
- A fourth document outlining a roadmap towards a National Spirometry Program will be released later in the year to support implementation.
The Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (TSANZ) has released new national spirometry standards aimed at improving the quality, consistency and safety of spirometry testing across primary care settings in Australia.
Developed through the Commonwealth Department of Health, Disability and Ageing-funded project, the standards provide an evidence-based framework to support clinicians involved in diagnosing and managing respiratory conditions.
Spirometry is a cornerstone diagnostic tool in respiratory medicine. However, variability in training, testing quality and interpretation has long been recognised as a barrier to accurate diagnosis, particularly outside specialist respiratory laboratories. Inconsistent spirometry can contribute to delayed or missed diagnoses, inappropriate treatment, and poorer long-term outcomes for patients living with chronic respiratory disease.
"In recent years, we've seen spirometry used less consistently in primary care, which has implications for patients' access to timely and accurate respiratory diagnosis. Spirometry plays a critical role, yet in recent years its use in primary care has become more variable, and in some settings more limited," said Professor Natasha Smallwood, President of TSANZ.
"That variability matters because it affects diagnostic accuracy and the care patients receive. Clear, contemporary standards are essential to support clinicians in delivering high-quality spirometry when it is used in clinical practice."
The updated spirometry standards respond to these challenges by setting clear national expectations for how spirometry is performed, how competency is recognised, and how services can be accredited to deliver reliable, high-quality testing.
These standards are designed to provide clear, practical guidance for clinicians, particularly in primary care settings, where early and accurate diagnosis can make a significant difference to patient outcomes.
The release includes three core documents:
- SPC01: TSANZ Technical Standards for Spirometry in Australian Primary Care, establishing the core clinical and operational requirements that must be met to ensure safe, consistent, and high-quality spirometry is delivered in Australian Primary Care.
- SPC02: TSANZ Standards for Training and Maintaining Competency in Spirometry for Australian Primary Care, outlining the required standard for the delivery of spirometry training and assessment of competency for individual spirometry operators.
- SPC03: Accreditation Guideline for Spirometry Services in Australian Primary Care, developed for organisations and practices in which external accreditation applies and outlines the essential components required for accreditation, including equipment, training, procedures, and infection control.
Together, these documents establish a coordinated approach to spirometry practice that aligns procedural quality and workforce capability. A fourth deliverable, a roadmap towards a National Spirometry Program, will be released later this year to support longer-term implementation and uptake.
"Publishing the standards is an important step, but the real focus is supporting their use in everyday practice," said Vincent So, Chief Executive Officer of TSANZ.
"Our aim is to support uptake over time. Equipping clinicians with clear, practical guidance is essential so they can have the confidence and the right tools they need to deliver high-quality spirometry."
The standards have been developed in collaboration with national experts, built on existing international guidance, and tailored to the specific needs of Australian primary care settings. TSANZ previously led the development of spirometry standards for resource sector workers in partnership with Resources Safety and Health Queensland (RSHQ). The new standards replace the 2022 TSANZ spirometry standards, reflect current evidence and contemporary models of care, and remain aligned with the 2019 ATS/ERS spirometry standards.
The documents are available via the TSANZ Website.
TSANZ encourages clinicians, health services and training organisations to access the standards and consider how they can be integrated into local spirometry practice, education and service delivery.
About us:
About the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand
The Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (TSANZ) is the peak professional body representing more than 1,800 respiratory health professionals across medicine, nursing, allied health, and research. TSANZ provides evidence-based advice, delivers professional education and training, and supports research to improve lung health outcomes across Australia and New Zealand.
