Respiratory and sleep medicine
Diagnostic sleep studies
Levels of sleep study and what each records, AASM scoring rules for apnoeas, hypopnoeas and hypoventilation, how to read a polysomnography report, MBS access for attended and home studies, and MSLT and MWT for hypersomnolence.
Tier 2Medical sciences concept
Written with AI assistance and fact-checked against the sources below. For exam study, not clinical decisions. How notes are made
At a glance
- A sleep study measures breathing, oxygenation and sleep architecture overnight. Its main job is diagnosing obstructive sleep apnoea, but attended polysomnography also diagnoses central apnoea, hypoventilation, parasomnias and limb movements.
- Level 1 is attended lab polysomnography (PSG). Level 2 is full PSG unattended at home, common in Australia. Levels 3 and 4 are limited home studies without EEG.
- The AHI (apnoeas plus hypopnoeas per hour of sleep) grades OSA: mild 5 to 14, moderate 15 to 29, severe 30 or more.
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Sources
- Douglas JA, Chai-Coetzer CL, McEvoy D et al. Guidelines for sleep studies in adults: a position statement of the Australasian Sleep Association. Sleep Med 2017;36 Suppl 1:S2-S22AU/NZAustralasian Sleep Association, 2017
- MBS items 12203 (attended adult sleep study), 12204 (attended PAP assessment) and 12250 (unattended adult sleep study)AU/NZAustralian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (MBS Online), fees updated July 2026, accessed November 2026
- The AASM Manual for the Scoring of Sleep and Associated Events, version 3American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 2023
- Kapur VK, Auckley DH, Chowdhuri S et al. Clinical practice guideline for diagnostic testing for adult obstructive sleep apnea. J Clin Sleep Med 2017;13:479-504American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 2017
- Krahn LE, Arand DL, Avidan AY et al. Recommended protocols for the Multiple Sleep Latency Test and Maintenance of Wakefulness Test in adults: guidance from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. J Clin Sleep Med 2021;17:2489-2498American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 2021
- International Classification of Sleep Disorders, third edition, text revision (ICSD-3-TR)American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 2023
- Last updated
- 14 November 2026
What changed
- 14 November 2026 Personal emails, About story and Australian-style copy