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Why it's done
By Mayo Clinic staffNitric oxide testing is done to help diagnose asthma or to see how well asthma medications are working. If you've already been diagnosed with asthma, your doctor may use a nitric oxide test during office visits to help determine whether your asthma is under control.
A nitric oxide test alone can't accurately diagnose asthma or measure asthma severity. For this reason, your doctor may have you take additional tests and will consider other information when examining the results of nitric oxide tests.
Nitric oxide testing is only available in some hospitals and doctor's offices. It may not be necessary or provide useful information for everyone who has asthma.
- Dinakar C. Exhaled nitric oxide in pediatric asthma. Current Allergy and Asthma Reports. 2009;9:30.
- Budev MM, et al. Battery of maneuvers. In: Carey WD, et al. Cleveland Clinic: Current Clinical Medicine. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-6643-9..00169-7--s0020&isbn=978-1-4160-6643-9&sid=1098987055&type=bookPage§ionEid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-6643-9..00169-7--s0135&uniqId=230624543-7#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-6643-9..00169-7--s0135. Accessed Dec. 23, 2010.
- Barnes PJ, et al. Exhaled nitric oxide in pulmonary diseases. Chest. 2010;138;682.
- Li JT (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Jan. 4, 2010.
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