title: Assessment of multiple sleep latency testing in adults in Europe.
abstract: Guidelines for the multiple sleep latency test (MSLT) were published in 1986 and updated in 2005. Individual interpretation of instructions may lead to variability in conducting and reporting the test with implications for diagnosis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess variability in conducting MSLT among sleep laboratories in Europe.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire based on the clinical MSLT guidelines was posted or emailed to 283 sleep centres in Europe.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety adult laboratories performing MSLT returned the questionnaire. Indications for MSLT were: narcolepsy, excessive daytime somnolence, driving issues and assessment of wakefulness. Routinely, only 17% of laboratories performed urinary drug screening and 68.2% asked patients to complete sleep diaries. Overnight polysomnography before MSLT was ran in 87.5% of laboratories. There was variation in setup and instructions among countries. Sleep onset was scored as one epoch of any stage sleep by 65.9% of labs. REM latency was calculated and reported according to the 2005 guidelines in 73.7% of cases. Abnormal daytime sleepiness was considered to be a sleep latency⩽5min in 33% laboratories.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is marked variability in the practice and interpretation of the MSLT in Europe.
authors: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Respiratory Failure Unit, G. Papanikolaou Hospital, University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece. patakath@yahoo.gr
authors: Athanasia
authors: A
authors: Pataka
authors: Chang-Ho
authors: CH
authors: Yoon
authors: Anita
authors: A
authors: Poddar
authors: Renata L
authors: RL
authors: Riha
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001334:Automobile Driving; D006970:Disorders of Excessive Somnolence / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005060:Europe; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D009290:Narcolepsy / Q000175:diagnosis*; D017286:Polysomnography; D011930:Reaction Time; D012895:Sleep, REM; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014851:Wakefulness