Spirometry and nebulisers increase the risk of spreading coronavirus infection and both should be avoided at this point in the pandemic, warns the National Asthma Council Australia.

It is recommending avoiding lung function tests including spirometry and measurement of peak expiratory flow during the COVID-19 containment phase.

Spirometry can spread infected droplets in the air even when patients are asymptomatic, and these respiratory plumes can contain virus particles for hours, the council says in an update to advice in the National Asthma Handbook.

Most patients with asthma could be managed without spirometry, even if it was not best practice, said Professor Amanda Barnard, chair of the council’s guidelines committee, and a GP in NSW.