How To Test Heart Rate Variability Equipment

Heart rate variability, or HRV, represents the idea that time fluctuates between heart beats. Measuring HRV is a noninvasive procedure that can be performed various ways to measure level of physical fitness. Clinically, results from HRV tests are extremely useful as they predict the risk for cardiac events or even sudden death. Equipment used for measuring HRV should be tested independent of the manufacturer to ensure the highest level of accuracy. Potential errors can occur during the electrocardiogram, which is a composite record of the electrical activity occurring in the heart throughout the cardiac cycle.

Step 1

Make a checklist of all HRV equipment devices, including all of their components. Begin performing a HRV test on a practice subject, make sure the data is recorded properly. According to the American Heart Association, computer or hardware generated technology is necessary to accurately record signals with precisely known HRV parameters.

Step 2

Test all the recording, replay and analysis phases and compare measurements from various equipment with computer simulated records of known HRV properties. Also, test new recorders as well as old recorders; if the device is capable of analyzing ECG measurements, each combination should be tested separately.

Step 3

Check solid-state recorders and long-term ECG recordings. The American Heart Association notes that solid-state recordings should permit signal renewal in the absence of amplitude and phase distortion. Moreover, analogue magnetic media used to measure long-term recordings should accompany signals using phase-locking time tracking.

Step 4

Report discrepancies or errors noted throughout the HRV testing. Factors such as increased noise or systemic bias of the equipment should be reported to the manufacturer.

Tips and Warnings

According to The American Heart Association, ECG equipment should abide by current voluntary industrial standards, specifically in terms of signal-to-noise ratio, common mode rejection, and bandwidth. When testing, each subject should be recorded under similar conditions and environment for greatest accuracy and ability to compare results.