PFT
Abbreviation with 2 meanings
| Stands for | Pulmonary function test |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 2 |
| Categories | Medical, Military |
PFT has two meanings. It stands for Pulmonary function test (respiratory) or Physical Fitness Test (military term).
Meanings of PFT at a glance
| # | PFT stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pulmonary function test | Medical › Respiratory |
| 2 | Physical Fitness Test | Military › Military Term |
1. Pulmonary function test
Medical · Respiratory Abbreviations
Group of breathing tests that measure how much air the lungs hold, how quickly air can be blown out and how well oxygen passes into the blood. A full set includes spirometry, lung volumes and diffusing capacity, and results classify disease as obstructive, restrictive or mixed.
Example: PFTs: FEV1/FVC 0.58, FEV1 54% predicted with significant bronchodilator response; TLC normal, DLCO 72%.
Testing follows American Thoracic Society and European Respiratory Society standards, updated in 2019 for spirometry and 2022 for interpretation, which favors z-scores and lower limits of normal over fixed percentages. Since 2023 US guidance has recommended race-neutral Global Lung Function Initiative reference equations. Patients usually withhold inhalers beforehand if bronchodilator response is being assessed. Results depend heavily on effort and technique.
2. Physical Fitness Test
Military · Military Term Abbreviations
Annual Marine Corps fitness test consisting of pull-ups or push-ups, a plank and a three-mile run, scored on a 300-point scale. The Navy and Air Force use their own fitness assessments.
Example: He maxed the PFT with 23 pull-ups and an 18-minute run.
Marines also complete a separate Combat Fitness Test (CFT) each year. PFT scores affect promotions for corporals and sergeants. Crunches were phased out in favor of the plank in the early 2020s.
Related abbreviations
More respiratory abbreviations
- PEEP – Positive end-expiratory pressure
- PEF – Peak expiratory flow
- PEFR – Peak expiratory flow rate
- PF – Pulmonary fibrosis
- PH – Pulmonary hypertension
- PIP – Peak inspiratory pressure
- PNA – Pneumonia
- PND – Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea
See all 109 respiratory abbreviations →
More military term abbreviations
- OSUT – One Station Unit Training
- OTH – Other than honorable
- OTS – Officer Training School
- PCS – Permanent change of station
- PID – Positive identification
- PL – Platoon leader
- PME – Professional military education
- POG – Person other than grunt
See all 248 military term abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.