The Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (TSANZ) has released a new suite of national spirometry standards for Australian primary care settings.
Published in 2026, the standards aim to improve the quality, consistency and safety of spirometry testing. “They provide practical guidance for all services delivering spirometry anywhere outside of a respiratory department (including general practice, occupational health and community healthcare settings).”
For spirometry providers—and employers coordinating respiratory health surveillance—this is an important opportunity to review current procedures, staff training and quality-assurance systems.
Why have the spirometry standards been introduced?
Spirometry is an important lung function test used to support the diagnosis and management of respiratory conditions, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and occupational lung disease.
The reliability of spirometry results depends on several factors, including:
- The competency of the person performing the test
- Correctly maintained and verified equipment
- Appropriate test preparation and procedures
- Effective infection-control measures
- Accurate assessment, reporting and interpretation of results
- Documented quality-control and clinical-governance processes
Poor-quality testing can produce inaccurate or inconclusive results, potentially leading to repeat testing, delayed medical decisions or an incorrect assessment of a person’s respiratory health.
The new TSANZ standards aim to create a more consistent approach to spirometry delivery across Australian primary care services.
Understanding the three TSANZ documents
The updated framework consists of three supporting documents.
SPC01: Technical Standards for Spirometry in Australian Primary Care
This document establishes the core clinical and operational requirements for delivering safe, consistent and high-quality spirometry.
It addresses areas including:
- Service personnel
- Equipment and testing environments
- Spirometer requirements
- Equipment verification and quality control
- Mobile spirometry services
- Infection control
- Patient preparation and testing procedures
- Test quality assessment
- Reporting and interpretation
- Longitudinal monitoring
SPC02: Standards for Training and Maintaining Competency
This standard outlines the requirements for spirometry operator training, competency assessment and the ongoing maintenance of competency.
It reinforces that completing an initial training course is only one part of becoming a competent spirometry operator. Providers should also have processes for supervised skill development, competency assessment and ongoing review.
SPC03: Accreditation Guideline for Spirometry Services
This clinical-governance guideline outlines the essential elements that healthcare services and accreditation bodies can use when reviewing a spirometry service.
TSANZ notes that there is currently no single national body responsible for accrediting all spirometry services. The guideline is intended to support existing accreditation, licensing and quality-management systems rather than establish a separate national accreditation scheme.
What do the new spirometry standards mean for your service?
Spirometry providers should review their service against the updated standards and consider whether their existing systems adequately cover:
- Operator training and documented competency
- Ongoing competency maintenance
- Equipment verification, calibration checks and maintenance
- Infection prevention and control
- Candidate preparation and consent
- Standardised testing procedures
- Recognition of technically acceptable and repeatable results
- Management of unsuccessful or incomplete tests
- Quality-control records
- Reporting, interpretation and clinical oversight
- Policies for mobile or off-site spirometry, where applicable
Some providers may already have many of these measures in place. However, the release of the new standards is a valuable prompt to check whether processes are current, consistent and properly documented.
What do the updated spirometry standards mean for workplace health surveillance?
Industries where workers may be exposed to respiratory hazards—including mining, construction, quarrying, tunnelling and manufacturing—may require candidates and employees to complete respiratory health surveillance.
These programs may include spirometry to monitor lung function and support the early identification of changes that could be associated with exposure to workplace hazards such as:
- Silica dust
- Coal dust
- Asbestos
- Welding fumes
- Chemicals
- Other airborne contaminants
The quality of spirometry is particularly important in occupational health surveillance because results may be compared over time. Testing must therefore be reliable and consistent and completed by appropriately trained and competent operators.
Recruiters and employers need confidence that candidates are being referred to clinics capable of completing the required testing in line with current standards and any applicable health surveillance requirements.
Supporting recruiters and employers across Australia
Medicals Australia supports recruiters and employers by coordinating health surveillance appointments through appropriate occupational health clinics.
We consider the required assessment, the candidate’s location and applicable industry or regulatory requirements when selecting a clinic. Through our network of more than 400 clinics across Australia, we help direct candidates to providers with the appropriate equipment, processes and trained personnel to complete the required testing.
This is particularly valuable for organisations recruiting across multiple metropolitan, regional and remote locations. Rather than relying on a single clinic provider, Medicals Australia acts as one point of contact and manages the booking and results process from beginning to end.
Employers remain responsible for confirming their specific health surveillance obligations under applicable work health and safety legislation and industry requirements. Medicals Australia can help coordinate the appropriate assessments and guide clients through the booking process.
Questions to ask when reviewing a spirometry service
A practical review can begin with the following questions:
- Are all staff performing spirometry appropriately trained?
- Has each operator’s competency been formally assessed and documented?
- Is competency reviewed and maintained over time?
- Are equipment checks, servicing and quality-control activities documented?
- Are there clear procedures covering infection control and candidate safety?
- Are operators able to recognise whether a test meets current quality criteria?
- Are unsuccessful or technically limited tests identified and managed appropriately?
- Are reporting, interpretation and escalation responsibilities clearly defined?
- Do mobile testing arrangements meet the same quality expectations as clinic-based testing?
- Do written procedures align with the 2026 TSANZ standards?
The importance of ongoing competency
Spirometry is highly dependent on operator technique. Even when appropriate equipment is used, the quality of the result can be affected by how the test is explained, demonstrated, coached and assessed.
Ongoing competency helps ensure operators can:
- Prepare candidates appropriately
- Provide clear and effective instructions
- Recognise common testing errors
- Obtain acceptable and repeatable results
- Respond appropriately when testing cannot be completed
- Record and report results correctly
- Follow current quality-control and infection-control requirements
For this reason, spirometry competency should be treated as an ongoing responsibility rather than a one-off training requirement.
How Medicals Australia can help
Medicals Australia is committed to supporting recruiters, employers and healthcare providers in accessing high-quality spirometry and occupational health services.
We can assist with:
- Coordinating health surveillance assessments
- Identifying appropriate occupational health clinics
- Arranging spirometry and related respiratory testing
- Managing candidates across metropolitan, regional and remote locations
- Coordinating bookings and results through one central point of contact
- Supporting clients in understanding the assessments required for their workforce
Whether you are coordinating pre-employment medicals or ongoing workplace health surveillance, our team can help ensure candidates are referred to suitable clinics for the required assessments.
Stay informed and confident
The new TSANZ spirometry standards provide an important opportunity to strengthen the quality, consistency and safety of spirometry services.
For industries that rely on respiratory health surveillance, selecting an appropriate clinic is essential. Medicals Australia provides recruiters and employers with a coordinated national solution, helping candidates access suitable testing while supporting a consistent and well-managed booking process.
If you would like assistance coordinating spirometry, respiratory health surveillance or other occupational medical assessments, contact the Medicals Australia team.
The complete suite of standards is available from the TSANZ Spirometry Resources page.