The Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) core laboratory supports investigators in studies which have exercise-related outcomes. The CPET laboratory provides consultation, training and services for assessment and analysis of gas exchange responses during cycle ergometry or treadmill exercise tests. This allows for measurement of a plethora of gas exchange variables that describe physiologic function and that are known to be strongly prognostic (e.g. the lactate threshold, V̇E/V̇CO2 slope, V̇O2peak, V̇O2peak/kg).
CPET has a long history at the Lundquist Institute and was developed by Drs. Wasserman and Whipp at Harbor-UCLA in the late 1960’s and 1970’s.
Since then, Faculty members continue to contribute to international guidelines that provide a framework for the application and interpretation of CPET. Highly experienced Lundquist Institute investigators remain active in pioneering CPET research that includes leading development of innovative methodologies and analysis techniques. This work is facilitated by dedicated research facilities that allows for measurement of breath-by-breath gas exchange during exercise along with important ancillary measures such as ECG, NIRS, EMG and TcPCO2 that enrich the information and interpretation garnered from CPET.
