What Is a Home Sleep Study & How to Prepare for It

Your bed partner woke you up in the middle of the night, worried after you stopped breathing mid-snore. Loud snoring already disrupts your nights. But add gasps and pauses in your breathing to the mix, and you have yourself a telltale sign of obstructive sleep apnea. 

Of course, you can’t rely on Google for an accurate diagnosis. And you might not be prepared for an expensive sleep apnea lab test.

Fortunately, there’s a more cost-effective way to verify whether you’re suffering from sleep apnea: a home sleep study. Before buying an at-home sleep test kit, let’s take a look at what exactly it entails, whether you’re a candidate for it, how to prepare for it, and how it differs from an in-lab sleep test.  

Also known as a home sleep apnea test (HSAT or HST), a home sleep study is a diagnostic test to help you and your doctor figure out whether you have sleep apnea. Because it’s done in the comfort of one’s home, most people find it a more convenient alternative to sleeping in a clinical setting.

When you choose to do an at-home sleep test, your doctor will provide you with a special kit, containing one or more pieces of medical-grade equipment to monitor your sleep. Depending on the device, it will record certain metrics such as:

• Oxygen level
• Airflow
• Breathing effort
• Movement (limbs, chest, or/and eyes)
• Heart rate
• Sleep position
• Sleep duration
• Snoring

Then, the data collected will be analyzed by your provider.  

Home Sleep Apnea Test Devices

Other sleep specialists may provide you with a set of equipment that should be returned or disposed of after the test. It can include:

• Belt – Worn around the chest or abdomen, it tracks movements to determine the amount of breathing effort.
• Nasal cannula – A flexible tube with prongs placed in your nostrils to measure your airflow and breathing patterns
• Pulse oximeter – A device that measures your pulse, oxygen saturation, and blood flow
• Data collection device – Tracks and stores all information gathered

Other home sleep test devices:

• WatchPAT – Designed to be worn like a wristwatch, this kit contains a test bracelet, finger probe, and chest sensor.
• Headband device – This device is made to be wrapped around your head. Some headband test devices already have built-in sensors to measure heart rate, sleep duration, breathing, movements, and more.

A home sleep study is mainly for those who suspect they might have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Because you get to doze off in your own bed rather than in the sterile environment of a lab, it’s ideal if you:

• Feel your sleep patterns at home better represent your typical sleeping behavior
• Don’t want to spend the night away from home
• Prefer a more affordable and accessible sleep test

Potential candidates for an at-home sleep test include those who:

• Snore loudly, wake up with a gasp or snort, and stop breathing temporarily during sleep
• Find it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep
• Frequently experience daytime sleepiness or fatigue
• Suffer from morning headaches or chest pain
• Experience changes in mood
• Have high blood pressure
• Have dry mouth and sore throat in the morning

It’s worth noting that not everyone should do a sleep study test at home. Your provider may recommend an in-lab sleep apnea test if you experience symptoms of other health issues affecting your sleep, like central sleep apnea, narcolepsy, restless leg syndrome, asthma, and other conditions similar to OSA.

Learn more about the symptoms of obstructive vs central sleep apnea. 

Generally safe and comfortable, a home sleep study has no serious health risks. Since the test devices are designed to be unobtrusive, you won’t have to worry about any discomfort. And if you’re hesitant to take midnight trips to the bathroom, you can rest assured these devices will account for late-night activities in the data analysis. 

The only main risk of doing a sleep study test at home is misdiagnosis.

To avoid getting inaccurate results, you’ll need to ensure that the device is approved by the FDA. You’ll also have to carefully follow the instructions that come with your sleep test kit.

Another thing that may cause a home sleep test device to make an incorrect diagnosis is the limited metrics it measures. Less comprehensive than an in-lab test, it’s not designed to identify specific sleep disorders.

To prevent this problem, you’ll have to be thorough in communicating your symptoms and sleep habits to your provider. That way, they can steer you toward the right diagnostic test/s.

Doing a sleep study is the first step in treating sleep apnea. Today, the most common methods for administering this test are: a home sleep study and an in-lab test or polysomnography.

So what happens during a sleep apnea lab test? In a sleep clinic or hospital, you’ll be provided a room to spend the night. There, the technicians will monitor your sleep using various sensors.

With the word “lab,” you’re probably thinking that the controlled environment of a sleep center looks like a sterile hospital room. But for a more sleep-inducing space, the rooms in modern sleep clinics are designed to be more like hotel rooms than clinical settings.

Location is the main difference between the two types of sleep tests–and nothing beats sleeping at home. Apart from the setting, there are other factors that can help you choose the right type of sleep study:

Cost

When it comes to upfront costs, a home sleep study is more affordable than an in-lab sleep study. On average, the price of a traditional lab test ranges from $600 to $5,000 per night. An at-home sleep test costs around $100 to $600.

But if your sleep test device does not paint the full picture of your symptoms, it’s less cost-effective in the long run. That means, even if you bought the device, your doctor might have you do an in-lab test to give you the correct diagnosis. 

Monitoring

During an at-home sleep test, you’ll be responsible for setting up one or more sensors. Your doctor will then interpret the data collected. 

When the test is done in a sleep clinic, there are trained technicians to monitor you closely and set up and adjust the sensors for maximum accuracy. An in-lab test also involves various wires and attachments to your body to gather more data, including brain activity and eye movements.

Depth

Because of the controlled environment in an in-lab sleep study, the data collected is more comprehensive. It can diagnose a wider range of sleep disorders and other health issues affecting your sleep. 

At-home sleep tests are usually used for diagnosing obstructive sleep apnea only. 

Convenience

For an in-lab sleep study, you’ll have to go to the sleep clinic and make the necessary preparations there. Not to mention, you have to be ready for a night away from home. The process can be tedious.

To do an at-home sleep study, simply bring the sleep test device home (or wait for your package to arrive) and set it up. You can then start the test as soon as you get to bed. 

Comfort

Both at-home and in-lab sleep tests are painless and technically non-invasive. But since a home sleep test is done, well, in the comfort of your home, it’s far more comfortable.

Think about it: you can do your usual routine and maybe snuggle up with your pet or loved one before dozing off. You’re in a familiar environment.

In a lab test, you’re stepping into uncharted territory. You’re expected to fall asleep in new surroundings, with strangers watching you and various wires hooked up to your body.

Sleep Quality

Comfort is a huge factor in sleep quality. So if an in-lab test makes you uncomfortable, the quality of sleep you experience in the clinic may not exactly represent your usual sleep patterns at home. 

When performing a sleep study test at home, there’s no need for lengthy preparations. But there are tricks for ensuring accurate results and an easier time falling asleep with the device.

Here’s what you need to do before and during your home sleep study:

Check the Instructions

After your appointment with your doctor, you’ll be given a sleep test kit in person or via courier. If you’re using RespShop’s prescription assistance services, you’ll receive your kit within 1 to 2 business days. 

After unboxing, make sure to read the instructions. Besides helping you set up your equipment, the kit’s manual will guide you through the things you should do before, during, and after the test.

For instance, the sleep test device might still need to be charged or plugged in. Or you might have to avoid specific medications or remove certain items from your body that can impact the device’s accuracy (like nail polish, acrylic nails, skincare products, and hair products). 

Most sleep test devices also require users to download apps and pair their phones with these devices. Plus, you might have to sleep for a minimum number of hours to ensure a successful reading.

All of this information can be found in the instructions included in your test kit. You can also check out our sleep studies FAQ for more details. 

Make Arrangements for an Uninterrupted Sleep

As mentioned, sleep test devices require a minimum number of hours of sleep to yield accurate results. That means you have to prepare yourself and your bedroom for a good night’s rest.

Here are a few ways you can enjoy an uninterrupted sleep for your home test:

Some of these tips might not be that helpful in giving you your much-needed hours of sleep. So think about the things that can disrupt and improve your sleeping patterns.

For instance, if you have pets or children constantly waking you up at night, it might be a good idea to ask a trusted friend or family member to take them in for the night. Or if you can’t sleep in deafening silence, play white noise on your bedroom speakers. 

Follow Your Bedtime Routine

The night before and of your sleep test, try to stick to your regular bedtime routine. Sleep and wake up on your usual schedule, and do whatever it is you typically do before getting to bed. 

Following your routine can help your mind and body relax before bed. Plus, it’ll signal your brain that it’s time to sleep. 

Wear the Device

After setting up your sleep test device and app, you can now put it on. If you need to use the bathroom or get up in the middle of the night, you don’t have to turn off the device. Leave it on and continue wearing it. The only time you’ll have to turn it off is when you wake up for the day. 

While a sleep apnea lab test can detect a more comprehensive range of sleep disorders, you don’t have to spend the night at a sleep center just to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea. Using portable medical-grade sensors, you can easily do a sleep study test at home.

Sure, it’s less accurate than an in-lab test. But as long as you report all of your symptoms to your doctor and follow the device’s instructions correctly, you won’t have to worry about getting misdiagnosed.

More importantly, a home sleep test is far more budget-friendly and comfortable. You’ll only be setting up one small device or more, and you can go through the entire test on your own bed. 

Remember: the main goal of a home sleep study is to make the diagnostic process more convenient and accessible–all while delivering reliable results. So if you have any concerns or questions about the process, don’t hesitate to contact us. Our team of sleep specialists can help you interpret your sleep test results, get a prescription or renew your CPAP prescription, and find the right CPAP machine for your needs.