Revolutionising Asthma Management: The Role of FeNO in Modern Respiratory Care

In today’s evolving healthcare landscape, the need for accurate, non-invasive, and real-time diagnostic tools has never been greater, particularly in respiratory care. One such innovation transforming clinical decision-making is the measurement of Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO).

At Diagno, we are committed to advancing diagnostic excellence, and as a proud distributor of Bedfont FeNO devices, we are enabling clinicians across South Africa to access cutting-edge tools that enhance patient outcomes.

What is FeNO and Why Does it Matter?

FeNO is a non-invasive biomarker used to assess airway inflammation, particularly in respiratory diseases such as asthma (Antus et al., 2010) . Elevated levels of nitric oxide in exhaled breath are strongly associated with eosinophilic airway inflammation, making FeNO an important clinical tool for diagnosis and management.

FeNO testing supports clinicians in:

• Diagnosing asthma

• Monitoring response to anti-inflammatory therapy

• Assessing patient adherence to treatment

• Personalising care pathways

Unlike traditional diagnostic approaches, FeNO testing is rapid, simple, and can be performed at the point of care, providing immediate actionable insights.

The Shift Towards Portable FeNO Testing

Historically, FeNO measurement relied on chemiluminescence analysers, which are considered the gold standard due to their high sensitivity and specificity. However, their cost, size, and calibration requirements have limited widespread clinical adoption (Antus et al., 2010) .

Recent advancements in electrochemical sensor technology have enabled the development of portable, hand-held FeNO devices, significantly improving accessibility and usability in routine clinical practice.

Clinical Evidence Supporting Portable FeNO Devices

A comparative clinical study evaluating a portable FeNO device (NObreath, Bedfont) against both a gold-standard chemiluminescence analyser and another portable device demonstrated strong clinical validity.

Key findings included:

• A strong linear correlation between portable and laboratory-based measurements (r = 0.923, p < 0.001)

• Minimal inter-device variability, with differences considered clinically acceptable

• High levels of reproducibility across repeated measurements 

• Demonstrated suitability for routine clinical application (Antus et al., 2010)

Although minor differences in readings were observed between devices, these were not clinically significant and did not impact decision-making.

Why FeNO is a Game-Changer for South African Healthcare

In the South African context, where healthcare systems must balance cost-efficiency, accessibility, and clinical quality, FeNO testing offers significant advantages:

1. Improved Diagnostic Accuracy

FeNO helps distinguish Type 2 inflammatory asthma from non-inflammatory respiratory conditions, reducing misdiagnosis.

2. Personalised Treatment

Objective measurement of airway inflammation enables clinicians to optimise corticosteroid therapy and avoid over- or under-treatment.

3. Cost Reduction

Better disease control can lead to:

• Fewer hospital admissions

• Reduced emergency visits

• Improved long-term outcomes

4. Point-of-Care Efficiency

Portable FeNO devices allow testing to be performed:

• In consulting rooms

• In primary care settings

• In paediatric practices

Diagno + Bedfont: Bringing Innovation to the Frontline

As a trusted distributor of Bedfont FeNO devices, Diagno is focused on:

• Expanding access to advanced respiratory diagnostics 

• Supporting clinical education and awareness initiatives 

• Enabling data-driven decision-making at the point of care 

• Driving innovation within the South African healthcare ecosystem

Bedfont’s FeNO devices combine portability, accuracy, and ease-of-use, aligning with the growing demand for efficient and scalable diagnostic solutions.

The Future of Respiratory Diagnostics

The integration of FeNO into clinical workflows reflects a broader shift towards:

• Precision medicine 

• Preventative and proactive care 

• Real-time clinical decision support 

As healthcare systems continue to evolve, technologies such as FeNO will play a central role in improving both clinical outcomes and operational efficiency.

Conclusion

Clinical evidence confirms that portable FeNO devices are reliable, reproducible, and suitable for routine clinical use, with strong agreement to gold-standard measurement techniques (Antus et al., 2010) .

At Diagno, we believe that access to advanced diagnostic tools is key to transforming patient care, and FeNO represents a critical step forward in respiratory medicine.

References

Antus, B., Horvath, I., & Barta, I. (2010). Assessment of exhaled nitric oxide by a new hand-held device. Respiratory Medicine, 104(9), 1377–1380.