Maintenance of Wakefulness Test (MWT) is a daytime sleep study that measures how well you can remain awake in a calm, non-stimulating environment.
Maintenance of Wakefulness Test (MWT) provides an objective index of daytime alertness and helps diagnose or monitor conditions linked to excessive sleepiness, including narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), and other disorders that affect vigilance. At IPD we offer MWT testing across the UK. Our sleep physiologists conduct the study and UK-based consultant sleep physicians interpret your results, ensuring clinical accuracy and clear guidance for next steps.
The Importance of Maintenance of Wakefulness test
The Maintenance of Wakeful Test (MWT) is important to obtain an objective measure of daytime alertness and to evaluate how well current treatments are working. Results can inform fitness to drive, suitability for safety-critical roles, and ongoing management of narcolepsy and sleep apnoea, helping you and your clinician make confident, evidence-based decisions.
Do I need a Maintenance of Wakefulness Test?
Maintenance of Wakeful Test (MWT) is to be conducted when you need to confirm sustained wakefulness during the day, especially if you experience persistent sleepiness despite adequate sleep or treatment, have concerns about staying awake in daily activities, or must document alertness for safety-sensitive work. If these scenarios apply, IPD can arrange an MWT and provide a consultant-verified report to guide your care.
What Happens During a Maintenance of Wakefulness test?
To set expectations clearly, the MWT is performed as a standalone test or after an overnight sleep study to confirm sleep quality beforehand. Each testing day includes several quiet-room sessions (spaced two hours apart) designed to measure your ability to resist sleep:
Remain awake for up to 40 minutes per session while seated comfortably in a dim, quiet room.
Non-invasive sensors record brain activity (EEG), eye movements (EOG), and muscle tone (EMG).
Session ends at sleep onset; time to sleep is recorded.
These repeated trials provide objective, comparable data on your capacity to stay awake across the day.
How and where IPD performs the Maintenance of Wakefulness test?
We conduct the Maintenance of Wakeful Test (MWT) in a controlled clinical setting; IPD can offer flexible, home-based options to support comfort and access. Our physiologists supervise each session, and our consultant sleep physicians review and report the results promptly, providing clear interpretation and recommendations for care.
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