If you’re concerned about whether or not you have sleep apnoea, there are a few ways you can decide to get tested, which are1:
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Level 1 sleep test, which is done in a lab where you are monitored by a sleep technician overnight
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Level 2 sleep test, which can be completed at home in a single night, but a referral from your GP is required
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Level 3 sleep test, which is what Blooms The Chemist offers, which can be completed in your home in a single night without a GP referral
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Level 4 sleep test, which is completed at night in a multi-night test
Always consult your GP, specialist or community Pharmacist to determine which sleep test is right for you and your needs.
Which Level Sleep Test is right for me?
As there are differences between the Sleep Tests, which one is appropriate for you depends on what you’re wanting to achieve from your sleep test.
If you’re after a thorough test, Level 1 might be best for you, as you’re monitored overnight in a sleep lab by a sleep technician.
If you want to go through your doctor and get a referral, Level 1 and Level 2 may be best for you, as your doctor can guide you to sleep specialists in your local area.
If you don’t want a referral and want to do your sleep test in the comfort of your own home just do it yourself, Level 3 and Level 4 may be right for your needs.
Level 1 and Level 2 have a Medicare rebate available, so you’re not left out of pocket. However, these two levels have lengthy wait times associated with them.
What can I expect from my At-Home Sleep Test from Blooms The Chemist?
You can hire the equipment needed to perform an At-Home Sleep Apnoea Test from your local Blooms The Chemist. You just need to make a booking through our booking portal.
Our friendly and knowledgeable staff will explain the process of sleeping with the equipment on and how the equipment can tell if you’re at risk of a sleep disorder.
The equipment used by Blooms The Chemist Pharmacists measures your blood oxygen levels, your brain activity, your heart rate and the amount you breathe once the device is on.
The At-Home Sleep Apnoea Test can be done in the comfort of your own home and bed, so you don’t have to worry about disrupted sleep in a new environment.
Once you’ve completed your At-Home Sleep Test, you return the equipment you’ve borrowed to your local Blooms The Chemist, and your results will be sent off to our sleep specialists.
Our sleep specialists will analyse your results and deliver them in around seven to ten business days.
Once you’ve received your results, our Pharmacist will get in contact with you and explain what your results mean as well as treatment options that are available.
How do I book an At-Home Sleep Test?
You can book your At-Home Sleep Test online here.
References
1ResMed, Sleep Apnea Diagnosis, accessed 13 March 2023