While some diagnoses require an overnight stay in the sleep lab, many cases of sleep apnea can be diagnosed with an at-home test. Your doctor will determine if this test is right for you and, if so, prescribe you a breathing monitor to wear while sleeping. It includes a probe over your finger to measure oxygen levels and a mask with tubes into your nostrils, as well as sensors on your abdomen and chest.
This monitor is usually worn for just one night. Your doctor will then look at the results and either provide a diagnosis or recommend more testing.
The at-home monitor doesn't track everything that an overnight sleep study would track, but it can monitor your breathing, oxygen levels, and breathing effort. It also may provide a more accurate reading of how you actually sleep because you use it in your own bed.