If your doctor thinks you might have a sleep disorder, the next step is usually a sleep study. Today there are two main options: an overnight study in a sleep lab, or a home sleep test you take in your own bed. Both can diagnose sleep apnea, but they measure different things and suit different patients. Here’s how to tell which one is right for you.
What is an in-lab sleep study?
An in-lab sleep study, also called polysomnography, is the most complete sleep test available. You spend one night in a private, comfortable room at a sleep center while a trained sleep technologist monitors you. Small sensors record:
- Brain waves, to show which stage of sleep you’re in
- Breathing, airflow and blood oxygen levels
- Heart rate and rhythm
- Eye and leg movements
- Snoring and body position
Because it captures so much information, an in-lab study can diagnose a wide range of sleep disorders, not just sleep apnea. It’s also the setting where a technologist can fit and adjust a CPAP machine during the same night if needed.
What is a home sleep test?
A home sleep apnea test is a simpler, portable device you wear while sleeping at home. It typically measures breathing effort, airflow, blood oxygen and heart rate. It does not record brain waves, so it focuses on one question: do you have obstructive sleep apnea, and how severe is it?
For many adults with classic sleep apnea symptoms, such as loud snoring, gasping at night and daytime sleepiness, a home test is a convenient and accurate first step.
Home sleep test vs. in-lab study at a glance
| Home sleep test | In-lab sleep study | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | Your own bed | A private room at a sleep center |
| What it diagnoses | Obstructive sleep apnea | Sleep apnea plus narcolepsy, parasomnias, movement disorders and more |
| Monitoring | Breathing, oxygen, heart rate | Full monitoring, including brain waves, with a technologist present |
| Best for | Adults with likely moderate to severe sleep apnea and no major other health conditions | Complex cases, other suspected sleep disorders, or an inconclusive home test |
When an in-lab study is the better choice
Your doctor may recommend an in-lab study instead of a home test if you:
- Have significant heart or lung disease, or have had a stroke
- May have a sleep disorder other than sleep apnea, such as narcolepsy, parasomnias or restless legs syndrome
- Had a home test that came back negative or unclear even though symptoms continue
- Need a CPAP titration to find the right pressure setting
What happens after your sleep study
A board-certified sleep physician reviews your results and recommends next steps. If you’re diagnosed with sleep apnea, treatment options may include PAP therapy, an oral appliance or other treatments. Our team stays with you through setup and follow-up so your treatment keeps working.
Schedule a sleep study in Florida
International Institute of Sleep has offered in-lab and home sleep testing across Florida since 1999. Not sure which test you need? Talk to your doctor, or call us at 1-800-481-3870 and our team will help you get started. You can also request an appointment online.
This article is for general information and is not medical advice. Talk with your healthcare provider about your symptoms.
