You will get the result of your nitric oxide test instantly – in less than a minute. This result provides useful information that will aid your doctor in diagnosing your asthma. However, the result from this test only is not enough for correct diagnosis. This is because the amount of nitric oxide in breath can vary due to other factors: lung function tests, previous nitric oxide tests and asthma medications. Therefore, the result must be used in conjunction with results from other lung function tests, such as spirometry and peak flow measurement, for diagnosing asthma.

Asthma is a disease characterized by the inflammation of the bronchial tubes, or airways, of the lungs. These inflamed bronchial tubes release nitric oxide. Natural processes in our body produce nitric oxide. However, if the amount of nitric oxide is greater than the normal amount, it means that the excess nitric oxide is due to the inflammation of the airways. The greater the amount of nitric oxide in your breath, the greater is the degree of inflammation of your airways.

So, what is a normal level of nitric oxide in breath? It usually means a level under “30 parts per billion” in adults and “20 parts per billion” in children. A level greater than 50 parts per billion indicates inflammation of the bronchial tubes.