title: A new technique for simultaneous validation of two manual nonmercury auscultatory sphygmomanometers (A&D UM-101 and Accoson Greenlight 300) based on the International protocol.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Auscultatory nonmercury manual devices seem good alternatives for the mercury sphygmomanometers in the clinic and for research settings, but individual internal validation of each device is time-consuming. The aim of this study was to validate a new technique capable of testing two devices simultaneously, based on the International protocol of the European Society of Hypertension.
  
  
  METHODS
  The concept of the new technique is to measure blood pressure alternatively by two observers using a mercury sphygmomanometer and by two observers using the A&D UM-101 and Accoson Greenlight 300 devices, connected by Y-tube to obtain simultaneous readings with both nonmercury devices. Thirty-three participants were enrolled (mean age 47.2±14.0 years). Nine sequential blood pressure measurements were performed for each participant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both devices passed phase 1 using 15 participants. In phase 2.1 (n=33), on a maximum of 99 measurements, the Accoson device produced 81/95/99 measurements within 5/10/15 mmHg for systolic blood pressure (SBP) and 87/98/99 for diastolic blood pressure (DBP). The A&D device produced 86/96/99 for SBP and 94/99/99 for DBP. In phase 2.2 (n=33), 30 participants had at least 2 out of 3 SBP obtained with Accoson device within 5 mmHg of the mercury device, as compared with 29 of 33 participants with the A&D device. For DBP, this was 33 of 33 participants for both devices.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both the nonmercury devices passed the International protocol. The new technique of simultaneous device testing using a Y-tube represents a time saving application of the International protocol.
authors.affiliation: Service of Nephrology, University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV) , Rue du Bugnon 17, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Menno T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Pruijm
authors.forename: Grégoire
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wuerzner
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Glatz
authors.forename: Heba
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Alwan
authors.forename: Belen
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ponte
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ackermann
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Burnier
authors.forename: Murielle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bochud
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000592:standards; D015924:Blood Pressure Monitors; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019722:Sphygmomanometers / Q000592:standards*