title: Evaluation of the VMM turbine for spirometry in the applied physiology laboratory.
abstract: The volume measurement module turbine (VMM) was evaluated in 51 subjects for spirometry in applied physiology against the Stead-Wells spirometer (SW) and Wright peak flow meter (WM). The volume and flow ranges (VMM) were, FEV1 1.32 to 3.94 L (mean 2.62, confidence interval [CI] 2.46 to 2.78); forced vital capacity (FVC) 1.97 to 5.06 L (mean 3.50, CI 3.29 to 3.71); and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) 290 to 624 L.min-1 (mean 434, CI 407 to 461). The mean difference for FEV1 was 0.09 L (CI 0.05 to 0.14), FVC 0.04 L (CI -0.02 to 0.10), and PEFR 18.0 L min-1 (CI 8.7 to 27.3) less than SW or WM. Bias with FEV1 and FVC was not significant, though PEFR demonstrated a significant proportional error. The repeatability coefficients for FEV1 and FVC were 0.18 and 0.20, comparable to the SW; but for PEFR they were greater, 58.4 versus 33.8 L.min-1 by WM. The VMM turbine is accurate and reliable for the measurement of FEV1 and FVC over the ranges studied; however, care should be taken when interpreting PEFR.
authors.affiliation: Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, England.
authors.forename: W D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Cunningham
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Paterson
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Rechnitzer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015982:Bias; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004867:Equipment Design; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate; D010827:Physiology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013147:Spirometry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014797:Vital Capacity