Accuracy of the HoMedics BPA-300, a home blood pressure monitor using the auscultatory method.

PURPOSE: To determine whether the HoMedics Model BPA-300 meets American Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) accuracy standards. METHOD: Simultaneous auscultatory measurements by two observers using a mercury manometer were obtained in participants during measurement with the HoMedics Model BPA-300. Triple measurements were obtained after a minimum of 5 min of rest and 1 min between readings. RESULTS: In total, 132 participants had 396 nurse-measured blood pressures (BP) and 385 successful systolic and 383 diastolic monitor readings. The initial auscultation systolic BP was less than 100 mmHg in 17 participants (12.9%), between 100 and 160 mmHg in 108 participants (81.8%), and greater than 160 mmHg in seven (5.3%) of participants. The average difference between the observers and device was 0.6+/-4.3 mmHg for systolic and 0.5+/-4.3 mmHg for diastolic-measured BPs by AAMI method 1, which met this guideline. The average difference between observers and device by AAMI method 2 was 0.9+/-4.0 mmHg for systolic and 0.5+/-3.9 mmHg for diastolic-measured BP, which met this guideline. CONCLUSION: The HoMedics Model BPA-300 meets AAMI accuracy standards using methods 1 and 2.