Orchards Shopping Center
1998 Route 70 East
Cherry Hill, NJ 08003
856-424-4400
ABOUT YOUR SLEEP STUDY
When will the test be over?
If you are scheduled for an overnight test only (PSG, CPAP or Bi-Level), you will be finished between 6:00
AM and 6:30 AM the morning after you arrive. If you need to leave earlier please let the technician know
when you arrive. We do need to record for at least 6 hours, so if you need to leave before 5:30 AM, please call
us when you receive this letter so we can make arrangements to obtain a complete test. If you are scheduled
for a daytime test (MSLT/Multiple Sleep Latency Test), you will be finished about 5:45 PM the
AFTERNOON after you arrive. Occasionally, we can end this test a bit early, but that depends upon what is
recorded and it cannot be determined until about 3:00 PM.
Where do I park? How do I get in the building at night?
We are located on the left end of The Orchards Shopping Center. You may park directly in front of our
facility. The parking lot is well lit and secure at night. We have a visual and audio monitor of the front door
and the technician can see and hear you. Just ring the doorbell, and a technician will arrive momentarily and
open the door for you.
What if I think I will be late for my appointment?
If you think you will be delayed for any reason, please contact the Sleep Center immediately at (856) 4244400. Failure to communicate your arrival delay by 30 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment time may
result in rescheduling your test for another night.
What if I need to cancel?
Your appointment reserves a bedroom specifically for you. If you need to reschedule or cancel, please contact
us at (856) 424-4400. Please notify us at least 24 hours prior to your test. Failure to do so will result in a
$100.00 cancellation fee.
What should I do before the test?
There are a few simple things you should do to prepare for the test:
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Try to sleep your usual amount and pattern for the 2 nights before your test
Remain awake the day of the test: NO NAPPING
Avoid caffeine (coffee, tea, caffeinated soft drinks) after lunch the day of your test
Continue to take all medications as ordered by your physician. Do not change unless instructed to
do so by your physician
Avoid alcohol the day of your test
Eat dinner before coming in for the test
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Some of the sensors will be attached with medical tape to your skin and some will be
placed in your hair with a paste. Please be sure your skin and hair are clean and dry,
specifically, that you use NO products in your hair such as conditioner, oils, or grease. If
your hair is not free of products, you may be asked to shower and wash your hair upon
your arrival. If you are a male, please shave your face if you are normally without facial
hair so that any stubble will not make it difficult to attach the sensors to your chin.
One sensor will need to “read” through your fingernail. Please remove nail polish from at least 3
fingers
Please do not bring or use any perfume, cologne or aftershave in order to be considerate of other
patients who might be sensitive to these.
What about medications?
Continue to take all medications as ordered by your physician. Do not make any changes unless instructed to
do so by your physician.
We are not allowed to give out medications and do not keep any medications here in the department. Please
bring all medications you may need while you are here, both prescription and nonprescription. If you
anticipate needing them, please bring antacid, pain reliever and/or nasal spray.
What should I bring to the test?
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Comfortable 2-piece nightwear (pajama pant and top, T-shirt and shorts/sweatpants)
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You may bring a robe and slippers
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Clothing for the next day
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If you desire a snack or a drink before bedtime, please bring these with you, but no caffeine or
chocolate.
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Any medications you may need
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A list of medications you regularly take
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Completed Sleep History Form if your doctor gave you one to fill out
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Completed Sleep Log if your doctor gave you one to fill out
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Your insurance card and, if applicable, insurance authorization or referral form
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We have pillows here, but many people are more comfortable sleeping with their own pillow. You
may bring your own pillow and/or blanket, but you do not need to.
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We have a shower here. We provide all linens, including towels. Please bring your own toiletries.
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If you currently use CPAP, Bi-Level PAP or another breathing machine, please bring your own
MASK, HEADGEAR and TUBING. There is no need to bring your machine.
What happens during the test?
You will have your own bedroom with an intercom to the technician. After you arrive and settle in, you will
be requested to complete some paperwork and change into your sleepwear. The technician will bring you to
the “control room” for application of the sensors. The sensors will go on your legs, shoulders, neck and head
and will be applied to your skin with medical tape or placed in your hair with a paste. There will also be belts
to measure your breathing and a sensor placed on one finger to measure the oxygen in your blood. The
technician will bundle the sensors so they are as unobtrusive as possible. After the sensors are applied, you
may read or watch TV until you are ready for bed. To ensure we obtain sufficient recording, the latest
bedtime will be 11:30 PM. When you are ready for bed, the technician will connect the sensors to the
recording device and start the recording. In the morning, it takes about 15 minutes to end the recording and
remove the sensors.
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Will it hurt?
No. You should not feel the recorder doing anything to you. During sensor application, the technician will
need to clean your skin under each sensor and you may feel some rubbing. Rarely, people with sensitive skin
will develop temporary red spots where their skin was rubbed. You may notice the wires from the sensors at
first, but most people adjust to them in a little while. There may be a little discomfort when the medical tape
is removed in the morning, but it is typically less than what you feel when removing a Band-Aid.
What if I need to use the restroom after the test begins?
If you need anything during the night, including a restroom break, just call the technician through the
intercom. It takes about one minute to disconnect the sensors from the recorder so you can go to the
restroom. When you are finished, it takes another minute to reconnect everything and resume the recording.
What if I smoke?
We are in a smoke-free building. If you wish to smoke, the technician can direct you to our outdoor smoking
area.
Will the technician be able to tell what I’m dreaming about?
No. The technician will be able to tell when you are probably dreaming, but cannot tell anything about the
contents of the dream.
What if I can’t sleep?
We are familiar with this worry and do not expect your sleep to be exactly like it is at home. We make an
effort to ensure the environment is as comfortable as possible. We do expect you will take a little longer to
fall asleep here as well as having a few more arousals and awakenings during the night. If in the morning you
feel you did not sleep, please realize that most people sleep more than they thought they did. Also, please be
aware that often we can make a diagnosis with less than a full night of sleep, although a full night is ideal.
What are CPAP, Bi-Level PAP, BiPAP, C-Flex and Bi-Flex?
They are all different types of machines that help people breathe better during sleep. They all have a mask or
other interface to wear over the nose only or both the nose and mouth. These machines blow extra air into
your airway to help normalize breathing. An initial sleep study is used to determine if someone needs
assistance breathing during sleep. If so, a second sleep study is used to determine the best mask/interface and
the best air pressure for the patient. These machines are only available by prescription written by your
physician. If you need one of these machines, your physician’s office will send the prescription to a medical
equipment company, which will contact you about your machine.
What if I use Oxygen, CPAP, BiPAP or other breathing machine?
Be sure your physician is aware of this so he/she can order the appropriate test.
If you use oxygen, be sure to bring a portable supply for coming to the lab and going home from the lab. We
can connect you to our oxygen supply while you are here.
If you use CPAP, BiPAP or another breathing machine, please bring your mask, headgear and tubing to the
study. There is no need to bring your machine.
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My doctor said I will be having an MSLT test (Multiple Sleep Latency Test). What does that mean?
This is a daytime test that follows the nighttime test. You will be asked to get up approximately 6:00 AM from
the nighttime test. Some sensors will be removed and some will remain in place. You will be allowed to wash
up some and change into daytime clothing if you wish, but you will not be allowed to shower. If you wish to
change into daytime clothing, we recommend that both your nighttime and daytime tops are front button-up
style, not pullover style. We will provide breakfast and lunch, but no caffeine is allowed. If you have any
special dietary needs, please bring your own meals to insure that you have meals that will meet your needs.
We have a small refrigerator and a small microwave that may be used for food storage and preparation. There
will be 5 “naps” during which you will be asked to try to sleep. These naps are about 2 hours apart and last
about ½ hour each. In-between the nap sessions, you will be free to walk around the lab, read, watch TV or
otherwise occupy yourself, but you will not be allowed to sleep. This test usually ends at about 5:45 PM, but
occasionally the last nap session can be cancelled (depending upon the results from the first 4 sessions).
What about the results?
Your technician will not be able to give you results in the morning. The recordings are 800-1000 pages long
and must first be processed by the daytime technician and then reviewed by one of our physicians. This can
take some time. If you are seeing one of the physicians associated with the Advantage Sleep Centers, he will
tell you how results will be communicated to you (office visit or phone call). If you are seeing a physician that
is not associated Advantage Sleep Centers, we will send the results to him or her. We recommend you make
an appointment with your physician 2 weeks after your study to discuss the results.
What if I have special needs?
We are happy to do whatever we can to help you have a comfortable and accurate study. If you have special
needs you might need assistance with please call us so we can be sure to provide the best care we can for you.
Some example of special needs include but are not limited to the following:
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Difficulty walking or cannot walk
Incontinence
Difficulty speaking, hearing, seeing, communicating
Mental issues: mental retardation, dementia, etc
Serious physical illness
Can my family member or friend come with me?
One or two family members or friends may come to the lab with you, but they must leave before the test
starts unless other arrangements have been made ahead of time with the manager. Please limit guests to one
or two.
I have more questions.
Please feel free to call us with any questions or concerns you may have regarding the sleep study. Our phone
number is (856) 424-4400. The office is open between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM weekdays. We have a voicemail
system if you would like to leave a message during off-hours.
FREQUENTLY PATIENTS TELL US THE ANTICIPATION WAS MUCH WORSE THAN THE
ACTUAL TEST. WE WANT TO MAKE IT AS COMFORTABLE AS WE CAN WHILE STILL
OBTAINING A QUALITY STUDY FOR YOUR DIAGNOSIS. PLEASE LET US KNOW WHAT WE CAN
DO TO HELP MAKE YOUR EXPERIENCE AT ADVANTAGE SLEEP CENTERS IS A GOOD ONE.
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