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Sleep Doctor Home Sleep Apnea Test: Expert Reviewed
Feb 29, 2024
Fact Checked
Sleep Doctor’s home test offers an affordable, convenient alternative to overnight lab sleep studies.
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$349 base price before discounts applied •
FDA-approved sleep apnea test •
Administer test and receive results entirely from home Key Takeaways
- The Sleep Doctor At-Home Apnea Test screens for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
- The test includes disposable sensors, a sleep report, and a virtual physician consultation.
- Test available within 2–4 business days. Results are available after one overnight test.
- Your doctor can help determine whether an at-home or lab-administered sleep study is best for you and your needs.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) affects nearly 39 million American adults, but 80% of people with OSA are undiagnosed, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM). Doctors can diagnose OSA using metrics gathered from an overnight lab sleep study or a home sleep apnea test (HSAT).
The Sleep Doctor At-Home Sleep Apnea Test is an affordable and convenient alternative to lab sleep studies. All necessary test materials are mailed directly to your door, where you can administer the test from your bedroom. One overnight test yields the sleep metrics needed for a doctor to diagnose OSA.
Our review dives into everything you need to know about the sleep apnea test, including how it works, how it differs from a lab-administered sleep test, and who could benefit from it. Keep reading to see if the Sleep Doctor At-Home Sleep Apnea Test is right for you.
Why should you trust us
Our Reviews Team conducts in-depth research so we can recommend products and services we believe will benefit our readers. To better understand the usefulness of home sleep apnea tests, we:
- Spent more than 15 hours researching the Sleep Doctor At-Home Sleep Apnea Test
- Reviewed product specs and documentation
- Read user reviews
- Consulted academic research to better understand the benefits, potential risks, and best practices associated with administering home sleep apnea tests
Pros and cons
Pros
FDA-approved
Approved by the Department of Transportation (DOT)
Quick results
Test from your own bed
Screens for OSA metrics in one night
Less hassle than lab tests (costs less, less equipment, no commute)
Cons
Less comprehensive than lab-administered sleep apnea tests
Risks of user error and inaccuracy
How does the At-Home Sleep Apnea Test work?
The Sleep Doctor At-Home Sleep Apnea Test offers a convenient, private alternative to overnight sleep-lab tests. You can use it to track sleep apnea symptoms like snoring, breathing changes, and heart rate from the comfort of your own bed. The test collects health metrics necessary for an OSA diagnosis with only one night of use.
The Sleep Doctor at-home test includes:
- Initial virtual physician consultation
- Disposable sleep metric sensors for finger, wrist, and chest
- Personalized sleep report
- Sleep therapy recommendation (if diagnosed with sleep apnea)
Sleep Doctor’s Sleep Apnea test is for adults 18 years and older. After ordering your test, Sleep Doctor ships all sleep monitoring equipment to your home. The package includes finger, wrist, and chest sensors to track sleep apnea metrics: snoring, heart rate, blood oxygen, body position, chest motion, peripheral arterial toneⓘ A non-invasive measure of arterial pulse changes in the fingertip that helps track any constriction of the arteries as a result of respiratory disturbances during sleep. , and actigraphyⓘ A non-invasive measure of activity or movement during sleep. It uses a small wearable device called an actigraph that is worn on the wrist, similar to a watch, during sleep. .
Results are then emailed to you and your doctor for review. If your doctor determines OSA is detected based on the test’s results, you may receive a sleep therapy recommendation. Learn more about sleep therapy in our articles on OSA treatment options and OSA treatment alternatives to CPAP.
Here’s how to get started with the Sleep Doctor At-Home Sleep Apnea Test:
- Medical forms: After ordering, you will be emailed medical assessment forms to complete.
- Video appointment: Upon receiving your medical forms, Sleep Doctor will help you schedule a quick video chat with a licensed sleep doctor. The doctor will approve your home sleep apnea test if you meet the proper OSA criteria.
- Home test: If approved, you’ll receive equipment via mail for a home sleep apnea test. You’ll wear the equipment for one night while sleeping to track OSA metrics.
- Results: You’ll receive a personalized sleep report via email; results are automatically sent to your assigned physician. The email will instruct you to schedule another appointment with the physician to review the findings together.
- Follow-up appointment: A qualified sleep doctor will interpret your results, answer any questions, and recommend sleep therapy if you qualify for an OSA diagnosis.
- Sleep apnea treatment: Based on your doctor’s recommendations, you can begin treating your sleep apnea. You can order sleep therapy equipment through the Sleep Doctor website if needed. Sleep apnea or continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines commonly treat OSA. Both home CPAP machines and travel CPAP machines are available. CPAP alternatives include oral devices, lifestyle changes, and surgery.
How much does the At-Home Sleep Apnea Test cost?
The Sleep Doctor At-Home Sleep Apnea Test costs $349 but can often be found at a discount. Sleep Doctor accepts flexible spending account (FSA) cards and health savings account cards (HSA) to purchase HSATs. You may find discounts and promotions by searching on the Sleep Doctor website. Sleep Doctor offers free shipping for orders over $99 (excluding Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands) and $7.99 shipping fees for orders under $99.
You can return an unopened Sleep Doctor At-Home Sleep Apnea test within 60 days for a partial refund.
Insurance coverage for the Sleep Doctor At-Home Sleep Apnea test will depend on your specific provider and plan. Some insurance plans will cover at-home sleep apnea tests, as long as they are prescribed by your doctor. You will need to check with your insurance company to determine if the test is covered under your policy. Medicare Part B covers both in-lab and at-home sleep apnea tests. After you meet your Part B deductible, Medicare will cover 80% of the cost.
At-Home Sleep Apnea Test vs. an in-person lab test
| Test type | Price | Location | Test availability | Helps diagnose | Covered by insurance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sleep Doctor At-Home Sleep Apnea Test | $349 | Home | Within 2–4 business days | OSA | Varies by insurance plan |
| In-person sleep apnea tests | $500 to $10,000 | Sleep lab | Varies | OSA and various sleep disorders | Yes |
Who should use this test?
Sleep Doctor recommends its at-home sleep apnea test for people suspecting they have OSA and seeking a diagnosis. It’s also ideal if you want to avoid the hassle, higher cost, and overnight stay associated with in-person, lab-administered sleep studies.
Curious if you should get tested? Common signs of OSA include:
- Loud snoring
- Gasping for air during sleep
- Brief periods where breathing stops while sleeping
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- Morning headache
- Irritability, depression
- Sexual dysfunction
Home sleep apnea tests are designed to help your doctor diagnose OSA specifically; they aren’t designed to measure your overall sleep quality. The AASM discourages sleep tests for those not at risk for OSA. Your doctor can help determine whether an at-home or lab-administered sleep study is best for you and your needs.
If you need broader sleep insights or have other sleep or health disorders complicating OSA home test results, you should choose an in-person sleep study. In-person sleep tests are more comprehensive—they can screen for various sleep disorders and rule out conditions with symptoms resembling OSA.
If you suspect OSA is the root cause of your sleep issues, the simplicity of an HSAT may best suit your needs. The Sleep Doctor test can also be a convenient choice for employer-mandated tests. For instance, certain workers like commercial truckers may be required to test for sleep apnea for their DOT-mandated physical.
How accurate are home sleep apnea tests?
HSATs effectively diagnose OSA in many cases but pose a risk of user error. Potential health factors may be missed without physician supervision compared to lab studies. A 2022 study showed a 39% misdiagnosis rate for at-home sleep apnea studies. The tradeoff between at-home convenience and in-person accuracy is important to consider, especially for anyone with complex sleep or health conditions. Despite the disadvantages, HSATs help many people diagnose OSA.
Bottom line
The Sleep Doctor At-Home Sleep Apnea Test offers a cost-effective way to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea from the comfort of your home. The test is FDA-approved and available within two to four business days after ordering.
The Sleep Doctor At-Home Sleep Apnea Test package includes monitoring equipment, a personalized sleep report, and two virtual consults with a licensed sleep doctor. It can be a helpful tool for those seeking an OSA diagnosis, offering timely insights and personalized sleep therapy recommendations, but is not as accurate as a lab-administered test.
Frequently asked questions
Home sleep apnea tests effectively diagnose obstructive sleep apnea but pose a risk of user error. They do not measure additional health metrics, such as brain waves and eye movement during sleep, compared to lab-administered sleep apnea studies that do.
The Sleep Doctor Home Sleep Apnea Test is an affordable, convenient alternative to in-person sleep studies. It can detect obstructive sleep apnea symptoms within one night of use.
The Sleep Doctor Home Sleep Apnea test costs $349 but can often be found at a discounted price. Check the Sleep Doctor website for limited-time discounts and promotions.
The Sleep Doctor At-Home Sleep Apnea Test can be covered with a flexible spending account (FSA) and health savings account (HSA). Your insurance may cover at-home sleep apnea tests if prescribed by your doctor, but you should check with your provider to determine your coverage first. Most insurance plans cover in-lab sleep tests, but, depending on your coverage, the cost could be lower for an at-home test.
Have questions about this review? Email us at reviewsteam@ncoa.org.
Sources
- American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Hidden Health Crisis Costing America Billions. 2016. Found on the internet at https://aasm.org/resources/pdf/sleep-apnea-economic-crisis.pdf
- Johns Hopkins Medicine. Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Found on the internet at https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/obstructive-sleep-apnea
- American Academy of Sleep Medicine. AASM Releases Position Statement on Home Sleep Apnea Testing. Oct. 13, 2017. Found on the internet at https://aasm.org/aasm-releases-position-statement-home-sleep-apnea-testing/
- Massie F, et al. Correlations Between Home Sleep Apnea Tests and Polysomnography Outcomes Do Not Fully Reflect the Diagnostic Accuracy of These Tests. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. March 1, 2022. Found on the internet at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8883090/