Basic Home Study vs. Gold Standard Lab
Gold Standard Lab PSG
An in-lab sleep study provides a board-certified excellence in sleep healthcare physician with the most complete evaluation of your sleep. You will be required to stay overnight at one of our sleep centers.
An in-lab sleep study, also known as a polysomnogram, records your brain waves, heartbeats and breathing as you sleep. It also charts your eye movements, limb movements and oxygen in your blood. This data will help your doctor make a diagnosis and develop a treatment plan
PROS:
PSG is the gold standard for diagnosing every type of sleep disorder.
Split tests available
Most patients only have a copay for gold standard lab study.
Board certified director available for results.
Test equipment monitored to ensure sensors remain in place during sleep.
Covered by Medicaid.
Scored and evaluated by professional
Sleep stages and sleep position recorded
Technician can educate patient about finding optimal pressure and proper mask fitting for CPAP study
CONS:
Slightly more expensive.
Must schedule to stay over night at the sleep center
Basic Home Study
Home sleep apnea testing provides a board certified excellence in sleep healthcare physician with the information he or she needs to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea. It allows you to sleep at home wearing equipment that collects information about how you breathe during sleep. You will usually set up the testing equipment yourself.
There are a variety of home sleep apnea testing devices that have different sensors and equipment. These devices measure your breathing and blood oxygen level. Some also may measure your heart rate or other information about your body.
PROS:
Lower cost
Patient can sleep in the comfort of one’s own home
Easy scheduling
May be a better option for patients at high risk for sleep apnea
CONS:
Not covered by Medicaid
Do not provide CPAP therapy with first study
Does not record the sleep and wake cycles of the patient
Cannot detect if patient snores
Study scores itself
Tests cannot score sleep stages
Tests are not as accurate as attended study
Not ideal for patients with other sleep disorders
Not ideal for patients with other medical problems
High risk for patent error in applying and maintaining monitors during study
Patient may require multiple home studies due to inability to use equipment properly
Can produce a false-negative or -positive score by the unit itself, resulting in additional Gold standard lab study to rule out