What Happens at a Screening
This is the 15th year of the Nationwide Asthma Screening Program, the ACAAI’s public service campaign to find adults and children who are at risk for undiagnosed and uncontrolled asthma. The program is supported by Teva Respiratory, LLC, and has screened more than 124,000 people and referred more than half for a professional diagnosis.
Being screened for asthma is a quick and painless process that includes filling out a questionnaire, taking a breathing test and talking with an allergist.
To watch a video of what happens at a screening, please click on the video below.
When you arrive at an asthma screening, you will complete registration forms that ask for basic information like your name and age and a series of questions about your breathing. Kids ages 8-14 get a form they can fill out themselves. For children younger than 8, parents complete the form on their child's behalf.
After filling out the forms, you will take a breathing test. It doesn't hurt at all, just simply blow very hard into a tube. The tube is connected to a computer that measures your lung function.
You will review the results of your breathing test and your registration form with an allergist who will ask you additional questions about your symptoms. If the results suggest you might have asthma, the allergist will refer you to a doctor for diagnosis.
The asthma screening program takes about 15 minutes.