I’m very impressed with this device overall, but it has limitations. I took this to the hospital where I work and all the doctors who saw it were very interested in this device and wanted to try it out, so I will include technical ECG details in this review helpful for them as well. No personally identifiable health care information will be included in this review. We did not and would not use this machine on any of our actual patients; this is a home use device for consumers. That said, several of the doctors wanted to know where they could buy one for their own home use, and I directed them to this listing here on Amazon. Any EKG tracings are anonymous examples only and include no personal information. No personal health advice will be given. If you’re worried about your own heart health, make sure you consult with your own doctors about this in a timely manner. ECG and EKG mean the same thing: electrocardiogram.- This is a 3-lead ECG/EKG device that will display a tracing of 6 limb leads: I, II, III, and additionally it displays the calculated leads aVR, aVL, and aVF. The tracings can be displayed clearly on my tablet device by downloading the app. This overall works very well and is easy to use. There is also included software that can be used with a home desktop or laptop computer, but I did not use that. The corresponding leads on a typical 12-lead machine are the Red, Black, and White leads. The Right Leg/Green grounding lead on a 12-lead machine is not needed for this portable device. Touch right and left fingers on the front and touch to your left leg on the back and it works. If you only want a single lead, there is a switch for that, then just a right and left finger on each side of the front of the device will do.- The P waves did not always display very clearly when I tested this several times, often the amplitude was too low and there was frequent artifact. Also some minor general baseline artifact here and there. The greater amplitude QRS complexes displayed better, T waves in-between. ST segments generally displayed clearly. PR segments less reliable. The QRS axis can be easily calculated within about 10 to 15 degrees by anyone who knows how to read the vectors. Most basic rhythms and common arrhythmias can be quickly sorted.- This is not the same quality as a hospital grade EKG and not meant to be, and it shouldn’t be relied upon as a home substitute for that. Anyone worried about a serious heart issue or chest pain should call 911 and go to the nearest hospital with an Emergency Department.- This does clearly display regular and irregular rhythms. If it gives an arrhythmia warning, this should be checked by a qualified medical professional. The lack of P wave clarity can make some atrial arrhythmias difficult to sort, but regular versus irregular can be seen at a glance, and some P waves are more clear, even if lower in amplitude.- Can’t rely on the on-board interpretation software. One EKG clearly showed left axis deviation, others showed non-diagnostic T-wave abnormalities. Another showed voltage criteria for LVH in lead aVL. The machine indicated “No Abnormalities” in all these. Leave it to trained health care professionals to interpret EKGs.- This does not include chest leads V1 to V6. That isn’t a negative because the device isn’t built for that. As such though, this should not be looked at as a substitute for that.- The carry case is not included, that is an additional purchase, also conveniently available here on Amazon. For a EKG device of this quality, I ordered that as well.
