title: The accuracy of dry gas meters at continuous and sinusoidal flows.
abstract: Dry gas meters are used in physiology laboratories to measure minute ventilation. The accuracy of these meters must be known since an error, of for instance 5%, affects the subsequent calculations for oxygen consumption by the same amount. Two precalibrated DTM-325 dry gas meters (American Meter Co., Philadelphia, PA, USA) were therefore tested for accuracy against a 350 l Collins chain-compensated gasometer. Provided that at least 25 l was passed per measurement then: a. continuous flows (air saturated with water vapour) between 60 and 150 l.min-1 were measured with an error of < 1%; and b. sinusoidal flows (ambient air) between 8 and 100 l.min-1 were misread by < 1% and the error was still within 2% at 140 l.min-1. It may, therefore, be concluded that the two precalibrated dry gas meters studied are valid volume measuring devices.
authors.affiliation: Exercise Physiology Laboratory, School of Education, Flinders University of South Australia, Bedford Park.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Hart
authors.forename: R T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Withers
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Ilsley
mesh_terms: D002138:Calibration; D006801:Humans; D008176:Lung Volume Measurements / Q000295:instrumentation*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D012015:Reference Standards