Methacholine Challenge Test (MCT)

   What is a Methacholine Challenge Test?

• A Methacholine Challenge Test is a lung function test done to see how sensitive your lungs are (airway responsiveness).  If you have hyper-responsive airways, your breathing passages can get narrow (bronchospasm), it may get hard to breathe and will be visible on the test results.  Methacholine is the name of the medicine used for the test. You will be given inhalations of the bronchodilator salbutamol which will reverse this narrowing.

• If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you should not have a methacholine challenge test.

   

     Do I need to stop taking any of my medicines before the test?

• There are medications you may need to stop taking prior to your test (see below). Call our office if you are not sure if you can take any breathing medicine or if you had to take any of the medicines listed below.​

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• If you are concerned about your breathing worsening and have not been able to stay off any of the medications, please let us know. 

• The test may still be performed and the use of your medication will be documented and included in the report.

• If you are currently on Omalizumab (Xolair), please inform the clinic and your doctor. We will assess the need for the Methacholine test.

    **Avoid smoking, coffee, tea, cola drinks, and chocolate on the day of the test.

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 Call our office at 403-475-9766 if you:

• Develop a lung infection, a cold, or the flu. If you have had any of these, you may need to have the test rescheduled.

• Need to change your appointment.

• Have any questions or concerns.