On March 16, 2020, due to the national outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) recommended that routine spirometry be postponed until further notice. On April 16, 2020, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued an Enforcement Memo, instructing its inspectors to avoid citing or fining employers who made good-faith efforts to obtain spirometry tests. However, occupational health clinics increasingly encounter situations where a spirometry test and/or fit testing must be conducted.
To address the challenges of protecting patients and staff during testing, ACOEM is providing the following updated guidance on how to safely conduct spirometry and fit testing in the COVID-19 era.
