Young child performing a FeNO testing using the NObreath FeNO monitor
Since the launch of the NICE guidelines on Asthma diagnosis in November last year, FeNO testing has been at the centre of much discussion and clinical debate.
Many practices within the primary care setting have happily implemented NICE’s new recommendations with all the great benefits that FeNO testing has to offer – but equally, many practices have the perception that FeNO testing is an expensive, highly complex and time-consuming test to perform.
Contrary to popular belief, FeNO testing is very much the opposite.
It’s cost-effective. It’s an incredibly easy test to perform. And it’s equally as quick as measuring a blood pressure.
Unlike Spirometry, FeNO is a very simple and quick breath test. And with the Bedfont NObreath FeNO monitor, it takes seconds to perform, with minimal respiratory effort and patient compliance required.
As the demonstration video shows below, the patient blows into the FeNO monitor for up to 12 seconds at a consistent flow rate. A result is displayed immediately after the test as one simple reading measured in parts per billion (ppb).
According to NICE guidelines, a reading of 40ppb or more in adults and 35ppb or more in children is interpreted as a positive test, meaning inflammation is highly likely in the airways and the result of the FeNO test can support a diagnosis of Asthma.
The video below demonstrates how simple (and quick) a FeNO test is to perform.
It’s important to understand that not all FeNO monitors are the same.
The Bedfont NObreath FeNO monitor in particular (as demonstrated in the video above) is very much designed for the primary care setting. And its easy to see why.
Its incredibly simple to use and the cost of ownership is no more than what you’d expect to pay for an ECG machine or a Spirometer. And the cost of consumables are the lowest in the market at just £3 per patient.
£3 per patient I hear you say!
Granted – it is a jump from that two pence cardboard Spirometry mouthpiece. However, many practices have adopted FeNO testing, not only because NICE have recommended it, but it has the potential to shorten the patient journey: reducing the amount of appointments one has to have before receiving a diagnosis.
Healthcare professionals can make better, more informed decisions when making a diagnosis, especially when it comes to diagnosing young children. And we all know how difficult it is to successfully get a good quality Spirometry test from a young child.
Why not see for yourself… Book a free on-site demonstration today
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1. Andrew D. Smith, Jan O. Cowan, Sue Filsell, Chris MacLachlan, Gabrielle Monti-Sheehan, Pamela Jackson and D. Robin Taylor. Diagnosing Asthma: Comparisons between Exhaled Nitric Oxide Measurements and Conventional Tests. Am J Respir Crit Care Med Vol 169. pp 473-478, 2004.
2. NICE Guideline NG80. Asthma: diagnosis, monitoring and chronic asthma management. Context section under diagnosis and monitoring. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng80/chapter/Context
