Who needs this test?

People experiencing one or more of the following indications have taken this test and many have gone on to be treated for their obstructive sleep apnoea successfully:

• Those experiencing daytime sleepiness (falling asleep watching TV, at the wheel, during meetings, after diner etc.)
• Those known to snore loudly, even more so after alcohol consumption
• Those reported to stop breathing, then gasping for air repeatedly during the night
• Any of the above, in particular combined with being overweight or having a recessed lower jaw

If you are not sure about whether your symptoms warrant taking this test, please refer to this free online questionnaire, which will help establish whether your experiences are similar to those of confirmed sleep apnoea patients.

The Preferred Sleep Study

Approximately 80% of all the patients diagnosed for sleep apnoea by the NHS have been tested solely by means of a questionnaire and finger pulse oximetry. Despite not even looking directly at airflow, the blood oxygen desaturation events and heart rate fluctuations are indicative of apnoea events and therefore, finger pulse oximeter tests are a reliable method of investigating symptoms of sleep apnoea*.

Based on the Latest Standards

In line with the British Thoracic Society's statement titled "Service specification for sleep apnoea and CPAP provision", dated March 2008, Intus Healthcare has put the utmost care into developing a screening process which meets the high standards of present day sleep apnoea screening guidelines.

Based on these guidelines, we regret to inform you that finger pulse oximetry alone will not yield data reliable enough to come to a meaningful treatment recommendation if one or more of the following are applicable to you:

• Your Body Mass Index (BMI) is over 40
• You suffer from COPD or Narcolepsy
• You suffer from, or have suffered from neuromuscular disease (such as stroke, Parkinson's, MS)
• You have a history of cardiovascular (heart) problems

If none of the above apply to you and you do experience excessive daytime sleepiness and have been known to snore and/or stop breathing during sleep, this finger pulse oximetry test is a great way to gain a detailed insight into what happens during the night.

How does this test work?

You will be sent a small watch-like appliance you wear on your wrist during the night as indicated in the picture above. A sensor is worn over one finger, which connects to the appliance on the wrist. The sensor records blood oxygen levels by means of a light (no piercing of the skin involved) as well as your heart rate. Up to three nights' data can be stored on its memory chip.

The sensor and wrist unit are comfortable to wear and generally do not disturb the usual sleeping patterns. If you suspect this may interfere with and therefore perhaps not be representative of your usual sleep patterns, we recommend renting the device for more than one night, to give you time to get used to wearing it and therefore increase the chance at recording enough quality data for us to look at what is going on.

How is blood oxygen related to apnoea events?

When an obstruction occurs (apnoea), or a narrowing of the airway (hypopnoea), the lungs receive less air to extract oxygen from. This shows on the blood oxygen readings several seconds after the event occurs. In an attempt to compensate for the event, the body releases adrenalin to alert you, which causes the heart rate to go up too. These fluctuations are recorded and when a typical pattern establishes, our experienced sleep technicians can quickly assess for signs of sleep apnoea.

What else is involved?

You will be asked to complete and return a multi-page questionnaire to include with the unit following use, aiding our staff in building up an accurate profile of your circumstances. This, combined with the data collected overnight, may then lead to an indication of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea / Hypopnoea Syndrome (OSAHS)*.

Who interprets the data?

Experienced sleep technicians assess each sleep study once the equipment and questionnaire are returned. Typically, they have worked or are still working in a sleep clinic where they have scored many tests such as these, as well as respiratory multi-channel studies and PSGs. A standard finger pulse oximetry test will not be seen by a respiratory physician and therefore, will not necessarily lead to an official diagnosis. You will receive the sleep technician's report and comments, either by e-mail or post.

What do I get?

You will be e-mailed a report showing the blood oxygen and heart rate patterns during the study period. The sleep technician's scoring notes and interpretation as well as recommendations will be included, in an easy to digest format, too. A formal diagnosis may be included if data proved conclusive. Objective treatment suggestions and comments on what to do next will be included too.

This process takes approximately five working days from the moment we receive the study equipment back.

Note that we do not inform GPs or government bodies such as the DVLA about the results without your consent. Results will always be handled discretely.

Screening is the first step to renewed health!

Order your test today and find out more about your state of health. Understanding your symptoms is the first step to finding the right solution. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask us.

* Please note that diagnosis cannot be guaranteed and you may be suggested to visit a sleep clinic for a more extensive sleep study such as a Polysomnogram (PSG). No refunds can be made unless in case of device failure.

Important

Because many sufferers require diagnosis, we ask you to only order this test if you are ready to sleep with it within 2 days of receiving the unit (delivery is usually next day if ordered before 3pm). We also need you to send it back the day after the last night you wore the unit. If you don't, you will delay other people's orders and we may have to charge you additional rental fees. Please only place an order if you are ready to take this test immediately.