What is the MSLT?

The MSLT (Multiple Sleep Latency Test) is a test which is conducted in the sleep laboratory to objectively assess the sleepiness. The night preceding the MSLT the examinee undergoes full sleep study in the lab.

The MSLT consists of five individual tests of maximum duration of 35 minutes, during which the examinee reclines in sleep laboratory under ideal sleep conditions, and simultaneously his brain function and time to falling asleep are recorded. Every test is performed 2 hours apart from the previous test. Thus, the whole procedure starts at 8am and ends at 5pm .

In the event that the patient already knows that he suffers from sleep apnea syndrome, he should bring with him the CPAP machine and use it during the tests, so that the results are representative of the real situation.

For more info:
http://www.sleepeducation.org