A simple test to measure the levels of nitric oxide a person is breathing out to help with the diagnosis and management of asthma has been given the green light by NICE.
NICE recommends three devices – NIOX MINO and NIOX VERO (Aerocrine), and NObreath (Bedfont Scientific) – to measure nitric oxide levels.
NICE recommends nitric oxide testing as an option in diagnosing suspected cases of asthma, but says that other tests are needed to confirm the diagnosis as recommended by the British guideline on the management of asthma.
Nitric oxide testing is also recommended as an option to support the management of asthma in people who still have symptoms despite being treated with inhaled corticosteroids.
Professor Carole Longson, NICE Health Technology Evaluation Centre director, said: “Diagnosing asthma is often a complicated and lengthy process. Using these devices can provide additional information for clinicians about those people who, following clinical examination, are considered to have an intermediate probability of having asthma.”
