FeNo Test

A Quick, Easy Way to Measure Airway Inflammation for Better Asthma Treatment

When you have asthma, your airways become inflamed, making it hard to breathe. There are different types of asthma and there are many diseases that have the same symptoms as asthma.

Knowing if your airways are inflamed can help your doctor make the right diagnosis, find the best management plan and monitor your asthma better. One way they can do this is with a FeNO test.

A FeNO test or exhaled nitric oxide test, in patients with allergic or eosinophilic asthma, is a way to determine how much lung inflammation is present and how well inhaled steroids are suppressing this inflammation. With allergic or eosinophilic asthma, sometimes you may feel your breathing is fine, but when you measure your exhaled nitric oxide, it may still be significantly elevated, and you might do better in the long-term using slightly more of your inhaled steroid to suppress this inflammation. Along with a spirometry test, we can determin the best treatments for you.

What Is Nitric Oxide?
Nitric oxide is a gas produced by cells involved in the inflammation associated with allergic or eosinophilic asthma.

How Is Nitric Oxide Measured?
The FeNO test, which stands for the fractional concentration of exhaled nitric oxide, is performed using a portable device that measures the level of nitric oxide in parts per billion (PPB) in the air you slowly exhale out of your lungs. The exhaled nitric oxide test is different from most lung function tests in that you need to blow slowly and steadily, not hard and fast, to get an accurate measurement.

Why Is Nitric Oxide Measured?
Your allergist may check your exhaled nitric oxide level to see if you have the typical inflammation associated with allergic or eosinophilic asthma during the process of establishing the diagnosis of allergic or eosinophilic asthma. Your allergist may then recheck the nitric oxide level to verify the steroid inhalers you are using are suppressing the nitric oxide level.

Successful control of your asthma depends upon a partnership between you and your allergist. Your allergist can use data from FeNO testing along with spirometry and other lung function tests to design and adjust your medication to keep your asthma under optimal control.

Steps to be done

What Is FeNO?

FeNO stands for fractional exhaled nitric oxide. When you breathe out, your breath can show if you have inflamed airways. A FeNO test measures the amount of nitric oxide in your breath. This test helps doctors tell if and how much inflammation you have in your airways.

 

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How Is FeNO Testing Done?

A FeNO test is a quick and non-invasive test that is easy for both children and adults to do. To take the test, your doctor will have you blow into a handheld device that will track your results. It is usually done in your doctor's office, and the test results are available right away. Your doctor can help you understand the results.

 

What Does Checking FeNO Levels Do?

If you have already been diagnosed with asthma, tracking your FeNO levels:

  • Determines if your current management plan is working properly and how your medicines may need to be increased or reduced
  • May identify what type of asthma you have
  • Can track your airway inflammation over time

Can tell your doctor if you have been taking your medicines correctly

 

If you have not been diagnosed with asthma ?

a FeNO test:

  • Can support your asthma diagnosis
  • Helps your doctor know how well you may respond to corticosteroids

Can rule out other conditions that have symptoms similar to asthma

 

Should I Get a FeNO Test?

Talk to your doctor about having a FeNO test if:

  • You have respiratory symptoms that won't go away but you don't know if you have asthma
  • You have asthma but your medicines and treatment plan aren't reducing your symptoms

A Quick, Easy Way to Measure Airway Inflammation for Better Asthma Treatment

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