Better Tests- Improving Diagnostic Accuracy and Prognostication in Interstitial Lung Diseases

Pigeon Fanciers attending a recruitment event at one of the large national meetings for the sport will undergo assessments after completion of informed consent. The basic assessments include collection of height, weight and lung function (e.g. spirometry). In addition we will collect basic information about current health, past medical history and current pigeon keeping habits (number kept, time spent with birds etc). Participants will then have a blood sample taken for collection of antibody level against Pigeons, and for storage for subsequent processing of relevant candidate objective tests. Participants will also perform an additional breathing test to allow collection of exhaled air, which will be analysed on site or via subsequent testing (dependent on test required). Results will be linked to symptoms on exposure to their pigeons and any subsequent diagnoses obtained.

Subsequent follow up of the Pigeon Fancier cohort, again via the participants attendance at large national meetings, will allow repeat of the candidate tests, enabling determination of natural variation and the effect of change in exposure or development of new medical conditions. We will also examine the dynamic change in candidate tests following natural exposures to causes of ILD, by performing the tests with a subset of Pigeon Fanciers before, during and after exposure to their birds.

Patients attending Interstitial Lung Disease clinics in NHS Tayside, and when admitted with their Interstitial Lung Disease, will be offered the opportunity to perform the non-invasive assessments available to Pigeon Fanciers, with their results being linked to subsequent clinical outcomes (progression of disease, response to treatment and time to death).