The accuracy of portable peak flow meters.

Comparison of five portable peak flow meters

OBJECTIVE To compare the measurements of spirometric peak expiratory flow (PEF) from five different PEF meters and to determine if their values are in agreement. Inaccurate equipment may result in incorrect diagnoses of asthma and inappropriate treatments. METHODS Sixty-eight healthy, sedentary and insufficiently active subjects, aged from 19 to 40 years, performed PEF measurements using Air ...

Calibration of some Wright peak flow meters.

The performance of Wright peak flow meters is described using an absolute and precise calibration method. This showed errors as great as 25% with the peak flow meter and 40% with the mini peak flow meter. At large flow rates errors were less. The expected variation between individual peak flow meters was about 12%. The expected variation between individual mini peak flow meters was between 16% ...

Portable peak flow meters: physical characteristics, influence of temperature, altitude, and humidity.

Little is known about the linearity of portable peak flow meters, or about physical gas factors affecting peak expiratory flow (PEF) readings. We therefore tested five portable peak flow meters of three types in an altitude chamber (sea level to 5,500 m) and in a climate chamber at sea level (7-37 degrees C) to determine the influence of the physical conditions of the gas on the reading of the ...

Eleven peak flow meters: a clinical evaluation.

Peak flow meters are essential tools in the management of asthma. Many types are on the market. A computer-driven piston pump is normally not available for evaluation of the various meters. Comparison with values from a pneumotachograph is an accepted way of testing peak flow meters. This study aims at comparing 11 peak flow meters, for accuracy and linearity. Seven adult peak flow meters were ...

Performance testing new peak flow meters.