Nasal nitric oxide measurement variability to establish a standard for reliable results

What is it about?

The measurement of nasal nitric oxide is a key test to orientate the work-up in children with symptoms consistent with Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD). The number of tests to perform (one - two nostrils, how many in each nostril) is not well established because there is nealry no data on the proportion of patients achieving two repeatable measurements. Repeatability between two measurements is often deem as 10% or less. In this study we evaluated in a large cohorte of PCD and non-PCD patients that the criterion of 10% repeatability was reach in three-quarters to two-thirds of patients using the recommended expiration against a resistance method. This proportion was similar for the breath hold method, but much lower for tidal the breathing method. These results are in favour of testing both nostrils and more than once each nostril.

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