Objective To analyze the quality control results of forced vital capacity ( FVC) test in elderly patients. Methods 534 lung function test reports of the elderly patients ( ≥ 80 years old) from January 2010 to December 2010 were collected from pulmonary function testing laboratory in Shougang Hospital of Peking University. Based on the report results, the selected patients were divided into four groups, ie. a normal group, a restricted group, an obstructed group, and a mixed group. The results of lung function tests that met the criteria of quality control in each group were statistically analyzed. Results A total of 534 reports were collected, of which 36 were not credible and treated as test failure. Of the 498 credible reports, 99.6% ( 496 /498) met the start-of-test criteria for quality control. 95. 8% ( 477/498) met the exhalation process test criteria for quality control with the highest rate of 98.6% ( 217 /220) in the obstructed group and the lowest rate of 85. 9% ( 55 /64) in the restricted group. The difference between two groups was significant (Plt;0.01) . 68.1% ( 339/498) met the end-of-test criteria for quality control with the highest rate of 88.6% ( 195/220) in the obstructed group and the lowest rate of 18.8% ( 12/64) in the restricted group. The difference between two groups was significant (Plt;0.01) . 16.7% (88/498) of the reports could be analyzed for repeatability, and the obstructed group had the highest rate of 22.3% (49/220) while the restricted group had the lowest rate of 6.3% ( 4/64) . The difference between two groups was significant too (Plt;0.01) . Only 14.6% (73/498) of the reports met all of the criteria listed above. Conclusions Elderly patients can also complete FVC test but the result may be not credible. There are still lots to be improved in FVC test for elderly patients.