Home Sleep Apnea Testing

For patients without any medical complications, a home sleep apnea test may be an alternative to spending the night in one of our sleep labs. A home sleep apnea test can only be used to diagnose sleep apnea.

How a home sleep test works

At your doctor’s appointment, your physician will evaluate you to see if you are a good candidate for this type of test. We may also need to get prior authorization from your insurance company. You can then get a home sleep apnea test device and instructions on how to hook it up. While you sleep at home, it will record your breathing effort, airflow, heart rate and oxygen levels. After you’ve done the test, your doctor will download and analyze the data your device recorded.

We offer a couple different options for home sleep apnea testing; your doctor will recommend the one best suited for your needs.

The pros and cons of home sleep apnea tests

A home sleep apnea test will not work for every patient but if it works for you, there are some advantages. It is less expensive than spending a night in the sleep lab and you may be more comfortable sleeping in your own home. However, the home sleep apnea test equipment is less sensitive than that used in the sleep lab so the data collected may not be as comprehensive or precise. Additionally, this test can only be used to diagnose sleep apnea, not any other sleep disorder. If the home sleep apnea test is inconclusive, you may be asked to spend a night in the sleep lab.