Temporary Suspension of Spirometry Testing in Alberta

This communication is to advise you that effective immediately, DriverCheck (“DC”) will be temporarily suspending all spirometry testing in Alberta in response to Premier Jason Kenney declaring a state of public health emergency on Wednesday, September 15.

DC continues to monitor the risk to our staff, clients, and business operations and will advise and provide updated information to assist with managing your alcohol & drug, and occupational health testing programs, and your workers. 

The worsening COVID-19 situation in Alberta has put a clear and critical strain on the local health care system, and further action is required to protect local resources.

In response to this, and out of an abundance of caution, DC has decided to temporarily suspend all spirometry services at our Alberta DC Clinics to help stop the potential and continued spread of COVID-19 in the region. Any booked spirometry appointments will need to be rescheduled.

Spirometry tests assess how well the lungs work by measuring the volume of air that is inhaled and then forcefully exhaled, and the rate at which this occurs.

The process of forceful exhalation during testing may spread droplets by the person taking the test. Medical practitioners and associate staff overseeing these tests may be at risk of exposure to COVID-19 if an infected person is tested, even if they have no obvious symptoms of COVID-19 infection.

Spirometry testing is a regulated test that is required by provincial Occupational Health & Safety legislation for employers whose employees are exposed to respiratory hazards in the workplace.

Despite restricting spirometry testing to only those that require this as part of a regulatory compliance measure, ensuring that all participants complete a screening questionnaire before engaging in testing, only using a dedicated testing room with appropriate ventilation and high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters, and following all public health guidance with respect to staff using fit-tested respirators for masking, physical distancing, and following hand and environmental hygiene, DC believes that the risk of exposure and transmission to be high at this time and has elected to suspend this service until further assessment of the evolving situation.

In lieu of performing spirometry testing, it is highly recommended that employers administer a respiratory questionnaire for employees that require spirometry testing during this time until such time that spirometry services can be scheduled again.

Please be aware that any spirometry testing that is deferred in good faith to mitigate COVID-19 transmission risk remains legally required and should be performed at the earliest opportunity.

Throughout the pandemic, DC Clinics have remained open with public health preventative measures in place. Our clinics have always followed strict infection control standards, and will continue to follow established guidelines set by provincial public health units in order to ensure the protection of your employees and our staff. Our commitment to your employees’ health and safety remains the same.

Should you have any questions or concerns regarding this suspension of spirometry services in Alberta, please direct inquiries to our Client Support Group by calling 1 (800) 463-4310 option 6, or by email at ClientSupport@DriverCheck.ca.

Sincerely,

Jonathan W. Davids, MD

Occupational Medicine Physician

Corporate Medical Director, DriverCheck Inc.