The influence of equipment weights on neonatal daily weight measurements.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the weight of commonly used pieces of neonatal equipment that can affect the accuracy of daily weight measurements.


METHODS
Twenty-one pieces of equipment commonly attached to the neonate at the time of daily weight measurement were selected for analysis. Three examples of each piece of equipment were weighed; each one was weighed three times. All weights were obtained using a digital electronic diaper scale calibrated to 1 gm accuracy and precision.


METHODS
Average weights for pieces of routine nursery equipment.


RESULTS
Equipment weights ranged from 1 gm for an umbilical catheter to 23 gm for a pulse oximeter probe. There was no variation among the individual examples for 19 of the 21 pieces of equipment. There was a small variation in weight for the pulse oximeter probe and the arm board, but these variations were of no clinical significance.
Hermansen
M G
MG
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Southern New Hampshire Medical Center, Nashua 03061, USA.
Hermansen
M C
MC
D015982:Bias; D001835:Body Weight; D002138:Calibration; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D017283:Neonatal Nursing / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014894:Weights and Measures / Q000592:standards*