This Article  • References  • Full text PDF  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Citing articles on Web of Science (16)  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in this journal  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

Lawrence V. Perlman, MD; Benjamin N. Chiang, MD; Jacob Keller, MPH; Henry Blackburn, MD

Arch Intern Med. 1970;125(6):1000-1003.

Abstract
Three hundred ten aneroid and 25 mercury sphygmomanometers in hospital use were calibrated against a new mercury manometer standard which properly recorded zero. A total of 68.4% (212 of 310) of the aneroid instruments and all of the mercury instruments were accurate within ± 3 mm Hg tolerance (average of four readings). An average deviation from standard of greater than ± 7 mm Hg was shown by 13.2% (41 of 310) of the aneroid instruments. Significant variation among hospitals in the proportion of accurate aneroid manometers appeared to be related to maintenance procedures. Aneroid sphygmomanometers must be calibrated periodically against a mercury manometer standard with a simple Y-tube connection. Only with careful observation, calibration, and maintenance should aneroid instruments be used in emergency care situations or in scientific studies concerned with indirect blood pressure.

Author Affiliations
Ann Arbor, Mich; Minneapolis

From the Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (Drs. Perlman, Chiang, and Keller) and the Laboratory of Physiological Hygiene, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis (Dr. Blackburn). Dr. Perlman is now with the Department of Medicine, Milwaukee County Hospital, Milwaukee. Dr. Chiang is an International Postdoctoral Research fellow (5 FOJ-TW 1025) of the US Public Health Service.

Footnotes
Received for publication Nov 28, 1969; accepted Feb 10,1970.

Reprint requests to 8700 W Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee 53226 (Dr. Perlman).

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter     What's this?

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

A Review of Common Errors in the Indirect Measurement of Blood Pressure: Sphygmomanometry
Bailey and Bauer
Arch Intern Med 1993;153:2741-2748.
ABSTRACT  

Aneroid Sphygmomanometers: An Assessment of Accuracy at a University Hospital and Clinics
Bailey et al.
Arch Intern Med 1991;151:1409-1412.
ABSTRACT  

The Office Management of Hypertension
Hickler
ANGIOLOGY 1975;26:42-53.