In-Home Sleep Test from Intus Healthcare

The In-Home Sleep Apnoea Test

If you have symptoms of the sleep disorder Obstructive Sleep Apnoea, our In-Home Sleep Test is a reliable and convenient way to have it confirmed from home. To begin treatment for Sleep Apnoea, a sleep study needs to be taken, stating the condition is present. Our tests use the revolutionary WatchPAT diagnostic, with accuracy comparable to PSG (used in sleep laboratories for in-depth sleep analysis), all from the comfort of your home.

 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This test is intended to assess the presence (or not) of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea only. The test will not provide confirmation (positive or negative) of any other sleep conditions. If you require a general sleep assessment or a test for any other sleep disorder, we would recommend discussing this with your GP or a private sleep clinic, such as the London Sleep Centre.

Our Sleep Test services are only available to people aged 18 or over. We also recommend not taking this test if your BMI is 45 or above. This is because any treatment is very likely to need to be overseen by a specialist, which is a level of care we would be unable to provide. We, therefore, recommend discussing your sleep symptoms with your GP at your earliest convenience instead.

 

How does it work?

The sleep test monitors your blood oxygen levels, heart rate, body position, body movements, snoring intensity, and, crucially, your Peripheral Arterial Tone (a key physiological signal that can indicate respiratory disturbances during sleep). The simple device is comfortable to wear, providing our sleep technicians with a comprehensive picture of your sleep and allowing them to return accurate results.

Please note: In order to take a sleep test, acrylic nails, gel nails, and nail polish require removal. Any such nail covering will affect the accuracy of the test result.

 

Which test do I need?

We offer two versions of our Sleep Tests – Rapid and Standard.

Both are the same price and accuracy; however, the Rapid tests provide results one to three days earlier than the standard version. This is because the data is transferred to us via your SmartPhone rather than waiting for the device to be posted back to us to download. Before ordering the Rapid test, please ensure you have a compatible Apple or Android smart device. You can find the WatchPat One app on the Apple App Store or Google Play on your smart device. Alternatively, find the Apple app here or the Android app here.

For more guidance on how the test works, please follow the links below to our comprehensive guidance:

Standard Test: Click to watch our video guide for the Standard Sleep Test

Rapid Test: Click to watch our video guide for the Rapid Sleep Test

 

Why choose a home sleep test?

Sleep Apnoea is one of the most common sleep disorders, affecting around 5.5 million people in the UK. Completing a home sleep test allows your Sleep Apnoea confirmation to be fast-tracked in a convenient manner. When the disorder is left untreated, it can lead to other health conditions that could have otherwise been prevented.

Quick – We understand how important your sleep is, so we ship your test the next working day and your results typically within one week of returning it.

Confidential – Your results are yours alone; we have no obligation to inform any third party.

Convenient – You complete the test in your own bed at a time that fits you. No need to book time off work for an appointment or overnight stay.

The WatchPAT sleep study devices are the most clinically validated home sleep test available. It has been shown to have results that correlate at 90% with Polysomnography – the “Gold standard” OSA diagnostic that requires an overnight stay in a clinic. No other in-home sleep test approved by the main regulatory body, the AASM, can provide this level of accuracy. The data is analysed alongside a medical questionnaire you will complete. This questionnaire has been reviewed by several of the UK’s leading sleep consultants.

The analysis is conducted by an independent sleep technician; they are paid a set fee per test regardless of the outcome – i.e. they are not incentivised to provide a positive result. All of our sleep technicians are NHS-trained, have at least five years of experience in scoring sleep studies, and are Accredited by the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (BRPT).

We are a member of both the ARTP and the BSS professional bodies and are in the process of gaining IQIPs certification. In summary, we are trusted to provide a professional, reliable and accurate service and have been doing so for over ten years.

 

What happens next?

Your results letter will include the next steps to take tailored to you.

The typical steps (assuming OSA is present) would include the following:

Suitable Treatment Options – If your test showed that OSA was present, then you can purchase equipment to begin treatment (providing no other health conditions would preclude that) and start sleeping properly again. The recommended options will depend on the severity of your OSA and your medical history. We are one of Europe’s largest providers of Sleep Apnoea treatment options, and with more than fifteen years of experience, we can accurately advise you about the most suitable treatment option. You may also be able to use your results to help your GP refer you to a sleep clinic. The clinic may then issue equipment for treatment, but in most cases, they will require their own sleep test to be conducted.

Further investigation – If you would like a further investigation into your sleep, then you can discuss your results with your GP. They may then refer you to a sleep clinic, which will determine what investigation is required. Please note that a referral based on your result from us is not guaranteed, but demonstrating evidence of a sleep disorder should make your GP’s decision to refer more straightforward. In some cases, further investigation may be essential should health issues beyond “just” sleep apnoea be suspected.

Peace of mind – If you are concerned that you may have OSA, then a negative result will give you peace of mind. The WatchPAT device’s false negative rate is close to 0%. Therefore should you continue to experience sleep problems, you have at least ruled out one potential cause. Similarly, if you are a heavy snorer, you can relax, knowing nothing is seriously wrong.

 

We are here to help

Should you need any further information, then please Contact Us and one of the team will be able to answer any questions you have.

Otherwise, you can place your order at the top of the page or call 0800 024 8050 for free. Within two weeks, you could have the result that allows you to begin treatment and start sleeping properly again.

 

Can anyone take an In-Home Sleep Test?

Our Sleep Test services are only available to people aged 18 or over.

We also recommend not taking this test if your BMI is 45 or above. This is because any treatment will likely need to be overseen by a specialist, which is a level of care we cannot provide. Instead, we recommend discussing your sleep symptoms with your GP at your earliest convenience.

Do you use a CPAP machine? If you are an existing CPAP user, you should pause using your machine for five days before taking a sleep test.

 

Cancellations

Please note this is a service, and once your kit has been dispatched, the order cannot be cancelled as the service will have begun. Unused tests can be returned, but the refund will be limited to a maximum of £160 due to costs already incurred by us in the provision of the test, regardless of it not having been taken.