The British Hypertension Society protocol for the evaluation of automated and semi-automated blood pressure measuring devices with special reference to ambulatory systems.
With the increasing manufacture of expensive systems for the measurement of ambulatory blood pressure there is a need for potential purchasers to be able to satisfy themselves that the systems have been evaluated according to agreed criteria. The British Hypertension Society has, therefore, drawn up a protocol of requirements for the evaluation of these devices. This protocol incorporates many features of the American National Standard for Non-Automated Sphygmomanometers but includes many additional features, such as strict criteria for observer training, interdevice variability testing before and after a month of ambulatory use, and a new system of analysis which permits the test system to be graded. It is recommended that manufacturers of ambulatory blood pressure measuring devices should obtain an unbiased evaluation according to a recognized standard before a device is marketed.
O'Brien
E
E
Blood Pressure Unit, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
Petrie
J
J
Littler
W
W
de Swiet
M
M
Padfield
P L
PL
O'Malley
K
K
Jamieson
M
M
Altman
D
D
Bland
M
M
Atkins
N
N
D015924:Blood Pressure Monitors / Q000592:standards*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis; D012015:Reference Standards; D012955:Societies, Medical; D006113:United Kingdom