"Fail" At Home Sleep Test but Apnea Confirmed In Lab?

I took an at-home test on 2 different nights. The results were "inconclusive". 2.8 and 2.9, so low apnea events.

My ENT wants me to do an in-lab study now to rule in or rule out sleep apnea.

Does anyone else have experience with this situation? A home test that showed little to nothing only to get diagnosed in lab? Or...? I am aware that home tests are limited in what they capture and can miss things.

I'm actually hoping it's sleep apnea at this point because otherwise it will be "difficult to diagnose" what's up with me.

(My symptoms are: tired upon waking/all day, frequent naps, night sweats 3 times a week, nightly waking up for a bathroom trip, some snoring).

The home sleep studies can definitely miss a lot. I had a home sleep study and used the device for two nights. It showed an average AHI of about 1.2. My Dr. then recommended that I do an in lab study due to my symptoms. The AHI for the in lab was 19.2. After that I was prescribed a cpap and have seen amazing improvements in my symptoms.

false negatives on sleep tests happen fairly often, even in lab ones aren't foolproof.

false positives, however, very rare.

There's all sorts of reasons you might not 'not breathe', but it's pretty easy to see when you do stop breathing.