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Results
By Mayo Clinic staffHigher than normal levels of nitric oxide generally mean your airways are inflamed — a possible sign of asthma. Generally, the more nitric oxide you have in your breath, the more your airways are inflamed.
Levels under about 20 parts per billion in children and under about 30 parts per billion in adults are considered normal. More than 50 parts per billion of nitric oxide in your breath may be a sign of airway inflammation. However, normal nitric oxide test results can vary widely from person to person, so your doctor will consider other factors as well. These include:
- Other test results (such as peak flow or spirometry test scores)
- Any past nitric oxide test results
- Your asthma signs and symptoms
- Any medications you take
While this test can help your doctor diagnose asthma and check your response to treatment, it's only one of several tools needed to make a thorough asthma evaluation and guide treatment choices. Results can reveal signs of airway inflammation, but your doctor will need to consider a number of other factors when interpreting your results. Your doctor will be able to discuss what your nitric oxide test results mean after reviewing other test results and asking detailed questions about your symptoms.
- Stewart L. Exhaled nitric oxide. Immunology and Allergy Clinics of North America. 2007;27:571.
- American Thoracic Society. ATS/ERS recommendations for standardized procedures for the online and offline measurement of exhaled lower respiratory nitric oxide and nasal nitric oxide, 2005. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. 2005;171:912.
