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What is FeNO Testing?
FeNO is a test that can help determine how much inflammation (irritation or swelling) you have in your lungs or airway (the tubes that carry air in and out of your lungs).
In patients with allergic or eosinophilic asthma, it also helps us know how well inhaled steroids are suppressing this inflammation and also if the patient has been taking the medications adequately or has skipped them.
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.
How does the test Work?
It measures nitric oxide in the airways. It is a gas produced by cells involved in the inflammation associated with allergic or eosinophilic (type of allergic cells) asthma.
How Is Nitric Oxide Measured?
The FeNO test, , 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.
How is the Test performed?
During a FeNo test, you breathe into a mouthpiece connected to a device through a that measures how much of this gas is in the air you exhale (breathe out). When combined with other information that your health care provider has about you, this test can confirm whether you have asthma or whether your asthma needs more treatment.
What is the importance of this test?
High FeNO levels indicate your airways are inflamed or irritated. This is why FeNO testing is a valuable tool in testing for asthma.
While an elevated FeNO test does not confirm a diagnosis of asthma, it does indicate that you may be experiencing airway inflammation or irritation. This, along with your medical history, physical exam and other tests, should help your doctor determine if you have asthma.
Who should do the Test?
FeNO testing is used routinely in asthma diagnosis and management and guidelines are frequently updated.
FeNO should be used in children over the age of 4 and adults.
The latest guidelines indicate that FeNO testing should be used in people with asthma who may need treatment but should not replace other tests like spirometry.
FeNO testing is just one tool in diagnosing and assessing asthma management it also measures the effectiveness of your asthma management plan.