title: Establishing high-quality reference values for nerve conduction studies: A report from the normative data task force of the American Association Of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine.
abstract: There are not uniform standards for nerve conduction testing across the United States. The objective of this study is to present a set of methodologically sound criteria to evaluate the literature for the purpose of identifying high-quality normative nerve conduction studies (NCS) suitable for widespread use.
  
  
  
  The Normative Data Task Force (NDTF) was formed to review published studies on methodological issues related to NCS. A set of criteria was then developed to evaluate the literature. These criteria and their rationale are described.
  
  
  
  We identified 7 key issues that reflect high quality in NCS. For each issue, specific review criteria were developed.
  
  
  
  Rigorous criteria enable identification of high-quality studies dealing with nerve conduction reference values. This represents the first step toward the overarching goal of recommending NCS techniques and reference values for electrodiagnostic medicine. Muscle Nerve 54: 366-370, 2016.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Pennsylvania, 1800 Lombard Street, First Floor, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19146, USA.
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dillingham
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA.
authors.forename: Shan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Andary
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.
authors.forename: Ralph
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Buschbacher
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Del Toro
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA.
authors.forename: Benn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Qinqunxx Institute, Rosharon, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Kuno
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zimmermann
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA.
authors.forename: Yuen
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: So
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D026683:Advisory Committees / Q000592:standards*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016208:Databases, Factual; D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D018594:Human Body; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology*; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D012016:Reference Values; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000503:physiopathology; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: erve conduction; guidelines; nerve conduction studies; normal values; normative data; reference values; standards of practice