[Diagnosis] any Apnitest reviews?

[wwsleep]

I did a search and didn't see anything.  probably because if you're here, you've done a full sleep study with a referral, etc.

But as I speak to people about my apnea and cpap, a lot of them (especially the wives!) will say they suspect their spouse or they have it.  (but snoring isn't necessarily apnea, etc).

Many say they won't pursue it (it took me a while to force the issue with my doc too), or their doctor said their insurance won't cover it, or 'I can't get into a sleep lab for six months' etc.

has anyone seen this one on amazon?  any real reviews?  

it looks better than a 'snore app' .  But I'd hate to recommend it to folks without any real life feedback.

any other 'I can do this myself' home studies you'd recommend?

[Illorum]

I did an Apnitest once (WatchPAT One from amazon). I was very impressed - it's able to score RERAs and report RDI, something that no other HSAT that I know of is able to do, making it UARS friendly. It's also a lot less invasive since there's only a finger probe, wristwatch, and chest sensor. It can do sleep staging and % REM sleep as well.

[Sleeprider]

A number of online suppliers provide access to testing and physician services for prescriptions. Supplier #30 is an example. I don't know why access to sleep care should be so difficult and why many physicians think they need to refer to a specialist. Any doctor cans prescribe CPAP or order home sleep tests. I would feel a lot better about it if the sleep specialists we hear about on the forum from their patients has some higher degree of competence and professionalism.

[wwsleep]

I did an Apnitest once (WatchPAT One from amazon). I was very impressed - it's able to score RERAs and report RDI, something that no other HSAT that I know of is able to do, making it UARS friendly. It's also a lot less invasive since there's only a finger probe, wristwatch, and chest sensor. It can do sleep staging and % REM sleep as well.

nice! any hidden costs?  I understand the test is one piece from amazon, then the analysis and possible prescription is another 100 bucks (or less now).

was the prescription accepted with no issues? (if you needed one)

they say it's a throw away device...but can you use it again? like to monitor your progress?

thanks

[Illorum]

Nope, no hidden costs, unless you count needing to pay extra for a prescription ($80) but I already knew about that upfront. I didn't need the prescription (I already had one and was just testing out of curiosity) but my brother did receive a prescription from them and was able to use it without any problems - it's a real prescription signed by a doctor and everything.

Unfortunately its one-time use. They have a monopoly on PAT technology right now.

[samurai3005]

I did a search and didn't see anything.  probably because if you're here, you've done a full sleep study with a referral, etc.

But as I speak to people about my apnea and cpap, a lot of them (especially the wives!) will say they suspect their spouse or they have it.  (but snoring isn't necessarily apnea, etc).

Many say they won't pursue it (it took me a while to force the issue with my doc too), or their doctor said their insurance won't cover it, or 'I can't get into a sleep lab for six months' etc.

has anyone seen this one on amazon?  any real reviews?  

it looks better than a 'snore app' .  But I'd hate to recommend it to folks without any real life feedback.

any other 'I can do this myself' home studies you'd recommend?

Hi wwsleep. I come from Viet Nam so I generally don't know how the healthcare system works in the U.S so I can only give you my insights into how the device works.

I had a high suspicion that my dad might have OSA so I tried to look for a way to diagnose "at home" first, before going to a Sleep Clinic. So I found out about the Apnitest and ordered one abroad. The service will give you a device called WatchPAT and tell you to use to it to record a full night sleep. Then it will help you send the data collected from that device to a board-certified sleep specialist in the U.S.

WatchPAT is classified as a home sleep test (which might not be as trusted by the doctors as a full polysomnography). However, since it has special technology (the PAT technology), it's generally superior to other home sleep tests (i.e: SleepOn) because it collects more data, which consequently gives a more accurate diagnosis. After collecting the data recorded by the device, Apnitest will send you the report as a PDF file through email. The report is very detailed (which impressed me a lot). However, since it is still a home sleep test, the doctors cannot start your treatment based on its result alone. They will have to order a PSG for you to confirm the diagnosis, as well as correctly measure the severity.

It is still very useful in your case (and mine as well) because:
- If it comes back negative, this almost means you don't have a sleep-related breathing disorder. You're free to go!
- If it comes back positive, this will give you more motivation to go see a Sleep Doctor (as in my case).

As in my case, the WatchPAT diagnosed my dad with severe OSA (AHI = 50) with mild CSA. After that I went to see a sleep doctor and he ordered an in-lab PSG, which came out as moderate OSA (AHI 25) and mild CSA. I guess the WatchPAT did its trick in helping my dad "reach" a diagnosis.

Hope this helps.

[StevesSp]

I would be tempted to give Apnitest a go, but as far as I can see, it's not available in Australia and Amazon won't deliver it to Australia.

I would be interested to see the result after a night wearing it - while using my APAP.

[Illorum]

However, since it is still a home sleep test, the doctors cannot start your treatment based on its result alone. They will have to order a PSG for you to confirm the diagnosis, as well as correctly measure the severity

This is not true in the US. The FDA and AASM consider it a valid diagnostic for sleep apnea and Apnitest dispenses CPAP prescriptions. Plenty of doctors in the US rely on HSATS as the sole diagnostic before starting treatment. In my experience in labs are resorted to if the HSAT turns up negative or other comorbidities like RLS or RBD are suspected.

[BetterSleepToday]

I live in Canada and could not get it through amazon but I contacted apnitest directly on their website and they shipped it to me.

[Andy4]

Home sleep Test through Amazon Pretty cool if you have Amazon Prime you can get Free 1-2 days delivery, I saw on Apnitest Webpage they’re offering multiple options for express ...
It’s a single use device and the results go through clouds so the home sleep study results can be available much faster,

I did a home sleep study two years ago and although it was considered “express” I wasn’t able to get my test results before seven business days, because of the shipping back and forth. But Apnitest uses cloud...
But does anyone know the quality of the watchpat one?