NIOX® vs NObreath

Discover the differences between NIOX® and NObreath

Why choose NIOX®?

Fully conforms to the ATS & ERS Standards¹

With no downtime, servicing or hidden costs, NIOX® is designed with healthcare professionals in mind, whether that is primary care or secondary care.

Jump to: Key Differences - Comparison Table - Pricing - FAQs

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Key Differences Comparison Table Pricing FAQs

NIOX® is the only FeNO technology available in the EU and US markets that follows the published ATS & ERS online measurement protocols in full, including inhalation of NO-free air.^1,2

The key differences

Truly removes
ambient NO

Fully conforming the the ATS & ERS standards, the integrated NIOX NeutroNO™ scrubber truly removes ambient nitric oxide on inhalation, alongside only taking in the last few seconds of the exhalation flow to analyse the lower airways.^1-4

No servicing, recalibration or downtime

Unlike NObreath, NIOX®’s pre-calibrated sensors eliminate downtime, and require no servicing, recalibration or waiting.

Independent of
battery

Unlike NObreath, there is no need to wait for the battery to charge. NIOX® works on battery or when plugged in with the power adapter, meaning no unplanned disturbances.

Compare NIOX®

	NIOX®	NObreath
Fully conforms to ATS & ERS Standards Complete peace of mind with technical standards.	Yes¹	No
Removes ambient NO on inhalation To ensure results are accurate and just from the patient.	Yes^3,4	No
Service free design, meaning no clinical downtime No additional cost for servicing or from downtime.	Yes	No
6-second child mode Making the test easier for children to perform.	Yes	No, 10s
Ergonomic and comfortable breathing handle and mouthpiece Making it comfortable and easy for patients of all ages to use the device.	Yes	No
≥99.99% bacterial and ≥99.97% viral filtration efficiency Protecting both you and your patients.	Yes⁵	No 98.41% Bacterial and 96.63% viral⁶
Operating temperature range Less worry about variable temperatures.	10°C - 35°C (50°F - 95°F)⁷	15°C - 30°C (59°F - 86°F)⁸
Constant audio and visual aids Accessible for all patients with clear and constant audio and visuals aids.	Yes	No
No reliance on battery life for testing Never have to wait to charge the device, start testing immediately.	Yes	No
Research paper features NIOX® is considered the technology of choice.¹	~5,440¹	~657¹

NIOX® Pricing

Competitively priced

With no hidden costs, NIOX® is priced competitively.
Contacting a NIOX® distributor directly is the best way to access the best pricing and to ensure you receive the right package for your clinic’s needs.

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NIOX® is cost effective⁹

NIOX PRO® is 20% more affordable than NIOX VERO®, helping you reduce costs without compromising on performance.⁵ Combine this with our trade-in offer, and switching to NIOX® becomes an easy decision.

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NIOX® vs NObreath FAQs

Fully conforming to the ATS/ERS standards means following the published online FeNO measurement protocols as written, including every recommended step of the testing procedure, such as inhalation of NO-free air before measurement. NIOX® is the only FeNO technology available in the EU and US markets that fully follows these protocols.

This matters because the ATS/ERS standards for FeNO testing are put in place to ensure devices are validated, standardised, and fit for clinical use. They are internationally recognised as best practice for FeNO measurement. By adhering to the complete testing protocols, NIOX® helps ensure measurements are performed consistently and reliably, giving clinicians confidence that results accurately reflect the patient’s airway inflammation and can support informed clinical decision-making.^1-4,10

Ambient nitric oxide (NO) levels can vary dramatically from as low as 2 ppb to over 500 ppb depending on the environment.¹¹ If ambient NO is inhaled during testing, it can contaminate the exhaled breath sample and artificially elevate the FeNO result.^12-14 This may lead to inaccurate assessments of airway inflammation, potentially resulting in misdiagnosis or inappropriate treatment decisions.

By removing ambient NO on inhalation and before the measurement begins, clinicians can be confident that the measured FeNO reflects the patient’s own NO production, providing a more accurate and reliable indicator of airway inflammation.^3,4,10

NObreath claim to control ambient NO on exhalation through only measuring the last few seconds of exhalation. To the best of our knowledge, there is no current published evidence that confirms that this removes the interference from ambient NO, as it is designed to remove dead-space volume.^2,12 The ATS & ERS standards are clear - ambient NO should be controlled before the exhalation begins through inhalation of NO-free air, something which all past and present NIOX® devices fully conform to.^1,2

TTo fully conform to the ATS & ERS standards, a controlled ambient environment (ambient NO < 5 ppb) is essential to ensure the breath sample starts from a known baseline with no interference.² While it may be difficult to control environmental nitric oxide concentrations, NIOX® devices remove ambient NO from the inhaled air before testing.^3,4

Before the FeNO measurement, the user inhales through the patented NIOX® Breathing Handle containing a NeutroNO® scrubber. The scrubber removes ambient nitric oxide (NO) from the inhaled air, preventing it from contaminating the exhaled breath sample.

This initial 4–5 second inhalation is a quick, easy, but essential step that removes the influence of ambient NO before the measurement begins. Environmental NO levels can range from 2 ppb to 500 ppb, and without a clean inhalation, ambient NO could artificially elevate the FeNO reading.^12-14 By eliminating this source of contamination, the measured FeNO value accurately reflects the patient's own airway NO production.

Removing ambient NO helps ensure accurate, reliable, and reproducible FeNO measurements that clinicians can trust, supporting confident clinical decision-making.^10,15

When a FeNO device is unavailable due to servicing, maintenance, or unexpected downtime, clinics can face significant operational and financial disruption. Appointments may need to be rescheduled or repeated, creating additional administrative burden, reducing clinic efficiency, and delaying clinical decision-making.

For patients, this can mean longer waits, repeat visits, delayed diagnosis or treatment decisions, and unnecessary inconvenience. In some cases, the cost of re-booking patients, staff time, and lost clinic capacity can run into the thousands.¹⁶ Minimising downtime helps ensure continuity of care, protects revenue, and delivers a better experience for both clinicians and patients.

Patient comfort is essential for obtaining an accurate FeNO measurement. Desktop testing provides a stable, convenient setup that allows patients to sit comfortably and focus on performing the breathing manoeuvre correctly. This can improve cooperation, reduce test variability, and increase the likelihood of obtaining a successful measurement on the first attempt. A comfortable testing experience also supports better workflow efficiency and overall patient satisfaction.

Battery-dependent devices can create delays and frustration when testing is needed but the device requires charging. With NIOX®, testing can begin immediately regardless of battery status, including when the device is plugged in with a low battery. This helps avoid interruptions to clinic workflow, reduces the risk of missed or delayed appointments, and ensures the device is always ready when patients are. For busy clinics, eliminating charging-related downtime can improve efficiency and reduce user frustration.

We believe pricing should be simple, transparent, and predictable. Our test kits include everything needed to perform FeNO testing, with no hidden fees or unexpected costs. This gives clinics greater clarity over budgeting and avoids the complexity of tracking individual test charges.

We offer highly competitive pricing, and because requirements can vary between customers, the best way to understand the most suitable and cost-effective option is to contact us directly. Our team can provide a tailored quote based on your specific needs.

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The NIOX® difference

What makes NIOX® different?

Fully conformant to ATS/ERS standards¹

NIOX® is the only portable device to fully conform to the ATS & ERS standards for FeNO testing.¹ Which is one of the reasons, it is the technology of choice!¹

The ultimate NIOX® testing experience

NIOX PRO® is designed by NIOX® but inspired by you. This is the best FeNO testing experience that NIOX® has ever engineered, and you can only get that with NIOX®.

The gold standard technology¹

Featuring in the most clinical studies, and used by thousands of healthcare professionals around the world: NIOX® technology is considered the gold standard.^1,17,18

Measures Nitric Oxide

Some FeNO devices estimate FeNO using gas conversions and complicated algorithms. With NIOX®, we simply measure NO directly.

No reconditioning or servicing

NIOX® devices are pre-calibrated, so no waiting between tests, and no servicing or maintenance is required. Never worry about downtime with NIOX®.