Microlife Health Management Ltd

In 2002 Microlife Health Management Ltd, was established in the UK, as a subsidiary of the World’s largest manufacturer of digital thermometers and 2nd largest blood pressure monitor manufacturer, being run by the experienced ex-General Manager and ex-Office Manager of Omron Healthcare.

Microlife 3BTO-A with BHS A/A Grade Clinical Validation
Microlife 3BTO-A with BHS A/A Grade Clinical Validation

In 2003, Microlife’s 3BTO-A upper-arm blood pressure monitor was listed by the British Hypertension Society in recognition of the monitor’s A/A grade validation for both systolic and diastolic measurement.

Already in 2004, a second Microlife upper-arm BP monitor, the AG1-1, has been added to this exclusive list. With the ever increasing choice of digital BP devices available to clinicians, it is essential that only monitors with independent and proven accuracy are selected.

To check the current list of clinically validated blood pressure monitors, please visit the BHS website: www.hyp.ac.uk/bhs

Now that you’ve chosen a reliable digital blood pressure monitor, how many readings do you take and why are single BP measurements unreliable?

Doctors and Hypertension Societies around the World recommend taking at least two readings at each visit, or taking three - but ignoring the first - and then calculating an average of these measurements.

British Hypertension Society blood pressure measurement guidelines:
"Use a device with validated accuracy that is properly maintained and calibrated. A minimum of 2 measurements to be taken at each of several visits".
Scottish Guideline for Detection and Diagnosis of Hypertension:
"The average of three blood pressure readings should be taken as the baseline blood pressure."
American National Guideline:
"The diagnosis of hypertension is based on the average of two or more elevated blood pressure readings taken at each of two or more visits after an initial screening."
New Zealand Guidelines:
"On each occasion two or more readings should be averaged if the first two readings differ by more than 10 mmHg (systolic or diastolic) additional readings should be taken."

This is due to four key reasons:

  1. Because blood pressure is not static. It is a dynamic body parameter with significant changes over the course of a day.
  2. Because, the accuracy of single blood pressure measurements is highly questionable. All blood pressure measuring devices are subject to slight variations from reading to reading, known as device scattering.
  3. Because readings taken on manual devices, including mercury columns, are subject to user interpretation and auditory sharpness, which naturally varies from user to user.
  4. Because manual mechanical devices drift from zero with use, making it essential they are recalibrated at 6-monthly intervals, to maintain their accuracy (and your confidence!)
    Microlife AC1-1 with MAM Technology
    Microlife AC1-1 with MAM Technology™

However, help is at hand with many new technologies being incorporated into the latest devices, like the Microlife AC1-1 with MAM Technology, which automatically take a series of readings and calculate a reliable average.

But what about the accuracy of readings in the presence of extrinsic vibrations or presence of arrhythmias?

Cardiac arrhythmia is a common clinical symptom and occurs in patients due to underlying cardiac disorders

The accuracy of oscillometric blood pressure measurement devices is affected by arrhythmic activities, if they interfere with the NIBP pulse-pattern processing. In these cases the measurement results - the systolic and the diastolic arterial pressures - may be false. Amid this fact, it is important for NIBP users to be informed about the occurrence of pulse arrhythmic activities in the course of the blood pressure measurement.

Microlife AC1-1 with MAM Technology™

Microlife’s patented PAD Technology™ automatically investigates all pulse periods within a complete pulse oscillogram. Specific clinical pulse arrhythmia may be diagnosed by detecting characteristic alterations in the pulse-period distribution.

Virtually all pulse artefacts are safely recognized, do not interfere with the analysis and are clearly displayed on the LCD.

For details of Clinical Validations, MAM Technology™, PAD Technology™ and other advances within the wide range of Microlife blood pressure monitors, thermometers, digital peak flow meters and nebulisers, please visit www.microlife.uk.com or to place an order call 01424 434300 for a Microlife Direct pricelist.

 

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