What is a home sleep test? A home sleep test is a portable device that can be used to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in an appropriate patient in the comfort of their own home. This device usually measures four parameters of sleep; respiratory effort, by attaching a belt across the chest and the abdomen to demonstrate efforts to breath there's usually a cannula-type device that has probes inside the nostrils and above the lip to measure airflow or air pressure and a pulse oximeter, which is a clip that fits over the fingernail bed and measures both oxygen and heart rate. This device is useful in patients who have a high clinical index of suspicion for having obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and have no co-morbid clinical conditions such as chronic heart or lung disorders or chronic brain disorders. A positive home sleep test confirms the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea. However, if a patient who has a high clinical suspicion for obstructive sleep apnea has a negative home sleep test, they should be referred to a sleep center for an in-lab complete polysomnographic evaluation to confirm or refute that diagnosis. I'm Dr. Ronald Popper, medical director of the Southern California Pulmonary and Sleep Disorders Medical Center in Thousand Oaks, California. To view more videos that help to address all of your questions about sleep apnea and other sleep disorders, please visit our website at SleepMD4You.com. Thank you for watching and always remember, sleep well tonight for a better day tomorrow.