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Mayo Clinic doctors may perform many tests to diagnose COPD and determine the best treatment for you.

Medical history and physical examination.
Chest X-ray. Assesses the heart size position and the presence of fluid, masses or changes in the lungs.
Computerized tomography (CT) scan. Produces more-detailed images of your internal organs than those produced by conventional X-rays.
Arterial blood gas analysis. Measures how well the lungs bring oxygen into the blood and remove carbon dioxide from the blood.
Pulmonary function tests. Help determine the condition of the lungs and the extent of lung disease.
Mucus examination. Examines sputum (mucus from the respiratory tract) to aid in identifying infections and detecting cancer.
Blood test for alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency.