title: Reproducibility of acoustic rhinometry in the investigation of occupational rhinitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To diagnose occupational rhinitis, it is mandatory to conduct an objective assessment of changes in nasal patency during specific inhalation challenge (SIC). The reproducibility of acoustic rhinometry measurements in the setting of occupational challenges has never been examined. This study assessed the reproducibility of acoustic rhinometry during SIC investigation of occupational rhinitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four subjects underwent acoustic rhinometry measurements during SIC investigation of occupational rhinitis. Subjects attended 3-6 days of SIC within a week by means of a realistic or closed-circuit apparatus methodology
  
  
  RESULTS
  All of the within-day intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) for nasal volume (2-5 cm) and minimum cross-sectional area (MCA) based on a different number of measurements (2-7) were above 0.85; all of the coefficients of variation (CVs)for the same parameters were low (below 10%). The between-day CVs based on different numbers of SIC sessions ranged from 8.0 to 8.8% and from 6.8 to 8.8%for nasal volume and MCA, respectively. The between-day ICCs ranged from 0.80 to 0.88 and from 0.83 to 0.94 for nasal volume and MCA, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acoustic rhinometry showed good within- and between-day reproducibility and can be recommended for the objective monitoring of nasal patency during SIC investigating occupational rhinitis.
authors: Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. roberto.castano@mail.mcgill.ca
authors: Roberto
authors: R
authors: Castano
authors: Gilles
authors: G
authors: Thériault
authors: Denyse
authors: D
authors: Gautrin
authors: Heberto
authors: H
authors: Ghezzo
authors: Carole
authors: C
authors: Trudeau
authors: Jean-Luc
authors: JL
authors: Malo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D023842:Rhinometry, Acoustic