bronchial challenge test


bronchial

 [brong´ke-al] pertaining to or affecting one or more bronchi.bronchial challenge test a pulmonary function test in which an aerosol such as methacholine, histamine, or an allergen is administered to provoke bronchospasm; used in diagnosis of asthma.

bronchial challenge test

Any of a group of functional tests for assessing asthma, in which a nebulised agent—e.g., histamine, methacholine—is sprayed on the bronchial mucosa that evokes bronchoconstriction in asthmatics, which is detected by spirometry; BCT is used to establish a baseline pulmonary functional status.