Sleep Studies & Lab Tests

Specialized Testing for Sleep Conditions

If you need help getting to the root of your sleep problems, the experts at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) are here for you. We offer a full range of sleep studies and lab tests to help you get a good night’s sleep.

Our faculty includes board-certified sleep medicine physicians and skilled nurse practitioners from both the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine and the Department of Neurology. Our Sleep Disorders Center sees over 10,000 visits across five different locations annually. The center also performs over 4,000 in-lab and at-home sleep studies.

Advanced Data Analytics

At our Sleep Disorders Center, we use innovative analytic techniques to analyze in-lab sleep study data. These techniques include:

• Cardiopulmonary coupling.
• Periodic breathing metrics.
• Spectral analysis.

These techniques help clinicians understand the nature and cause of underlying sleep disorders.

Sleep Studies

The following diagnostic tests and sleep studies can help determine the cause of your sleep problems.

Sleep Apnea

If you have or suspect you have sleep apnea, the following sleep apnea tests can confirm a diagnosis. Sleep apnea is a condition that results in decreased oxygenation levels due to airway obstruction.

Home Sleep Testing (HST) 

Home sleep testing is used to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea. For this test, you’ll wear a small monitoring device around your chest or a ring on your finger  while you sleep at home. The monitor records your breathing, respiratory effort and oxygen levels. 

Diagnostic Polysomnogram (PSG)

Polysomnography is a type of test that measures your sleep. It is also known as a laboratory sleep study. During a polysomnogram, an overnight sleep test is performed that monitors your sleep, breathing, and body movements in a lab.

Split Night PSG

A split night sleep study is a two-part overnight sleep test. During the first part of the test, we’ll monitor your breathing and look for signs of sleep apnea.

If we detect high levels of sleep apnea during the first part of the night, we’ll ask you to wear a mask connected to a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine for the rest of the study to support your breathing. CPAPs use pressurized air to keep your airways open while you sleep. CPAP is currently the most common form of treatment for sleep apnea.

Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) Titration Study

A titration study determines the best positive airway pressure (PAP) device and settings to support your breathing while asleep. You’ll wear a PAP mask throughout the study.

PAP machines include:

• Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices
• Bilevel positive airway pressure (BIPAP) devices. 
• Adaptive servo-ventilator (ASV) devices.
• Nocturnal ventilators.

Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT)

A multiple sleep latency test (MSLT) typically follows an overnight sleep study. The MSLT uses a series of timed nap opportunities to determine how fast you can fall asleep and if sleep structure is abnormal if you fall asleep.

This information helps us evaluate sleep disorders which cause daytime sleepiness other than sleep apnea. We ask that you keep sleep logs for 1-2 weeks prior to your MSLT test. You will give the logs to your technician at the beginning of the study.

Extended Polysomnography (Long Sleeper Study)  

For people with a tendency towards very long sleep times, such as in Idiopathic Hypersomnia, your provider may order an extended polysomnogram in which you sleep overnight and then through the next day to measure the amount and quality of sleep. 

Home Sleep Testing (HST)

Home sleep testing is used to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea. For this test, you’ll wear a small monitoring device around your chest while you sleep at home. The monitor records your breathing, respiratory effort and oxygen levels.

Maintenance of Wakefulness Test (MWT)

The maintenance of wakefulness test measures your ability to stay awake during the day. This test takes place in a lab. There are four 40-minute periods spaced out every two hours, during which you will be asked to quietly stay awake.

In Lab Testing for Inspire and Remede Implant Patients

The Sleep Disorders Center can activate your sleep apnea neurostimulator device. We'll evaluate the device's success after activation and initial adjustments. We will optimize the settings to ensure your breathing issues are corrected.

Actigraphy

Actigraphy uses a watch-like device to measure your movements and record your activity patterns for 1-2 weeks. The device aids in the diagnosis of circadian rhythm disorders.

Melatonin Profile

A melatonin profile uses salivary or urine melatonin to help diagnose circadian rhythm disorders. This is usually done at home, and the timings of measurements are determined by your physician.

Physician Supervised Sleep Studies

Our sleep physicians supervise sleep studies for particularly severe and complex sleep-related breathing disorders. A Physician will be monitoring the process remotely or in-person. Clinicians will refer you to a sleep study based on the complexity of your clinical history and prior sleep study experiences. You will receive a full range of advanced treatments to identify optimal and individualized treatments.

Advanced Data Analytics 

At our Sleep Disorders Center, we use innovative analytic techniques to analyze in-lab sleep study data. These techniques include: 

• Cardiopulmonary coupling, a method to assess interactions of heart rate and breathing.. 
• Periodic breathing metrics, method to assess breathing control.
• Spectral analysis, a method to assess quality of sleep beyond the usual stages. 
• Brian Age Index, a method to assess overall sleep quality 

These techniques are not done on all patients but can be ordered when needed and can help clinicians have a deeper understanding of  the nature and cause of underlying sleep disorders and allows for more personalized therapy.