Skip to main content

Main menu

  • Home
  • Current issue
  • ERJ Early View
  • Past issues
  • Authors/reviewers
    • Instructions for authors
    • Submit a manuscript
    • Open access
    • COVID-19 submission information
    • Peer reviewer login
  • Alerts
  • Podcasts
  • Subscriptions
  • ERS Publications
    • European Respiratory Journal
    • ERJ Open Research
    • European Respiratory Review
    • Breathe
    • ERS Books
    • ERS publications home

User menu

  • Log in
  • Subscribe
  • Contact Us
  • My Cart

Search

  • Advanced search
  • ERS Publications
    • European Respiratory Journal
    • ERJ Open Research
    • European Respiratory Review
    • Breathe
    • ERS Books
    • ERS publications home

Login

European Respiratory Society

Advanced Search

  • Home
  • Current issue
  • ERJ Early View
  • Past issues
  • Authors/reviewers
    • Instructions for authors
    • Submit a manuscript
    • Open access
    • COVID-19 submission information
    • Peer reviewer login
  • Alerts
  • Podcasts
  • Subscriptions

Variability of FVC and FEV1 due to technician, team, device and subject in an eight centre study: three quality control studies in SAPALDIA. Swiss Study on Air Pollution and Lung Disease in Adults

N Kunzli, U Ackermann-Liebrich, R Keller, AP Perruchoud, C Schindler
European Respiratory Journal 1995 8: 371-376; DOI:
N Kunzli
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
U Ackermann-Liebrich
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
R Keller
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
AP Perruchoud
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
C Schindler
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • Article
  • Info & Metrics
  • PDF
Loading

Abstract

Lung function testing of a random population sample in the eight SAPALDIA (Swiss study on air pollution and lung diseases in adults) centres had to be performed simultaneously, within one year, by eight teams and 23 technicians. We conducted quality control studies to test for technician, team and device related systematic measurement errors. To assess technician effects, each centre conducted a study involving 12-19 subjects. Two studies with 13 participants each addressed team and device effects. In all studies, volunteers repeatedly performed spirometry with different technicians or devices. Effects due to technician, team or device were estimated (analysis of variance). Neither "technician" within any of eight teams nor "team" accounted for significant differences of forced vital capacity (FVC) or forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1). The Device Effect Study revealed 10% lower FVC values for device No. 1 due to a technical problem occurring during the test day but not in the main SAPALDIA study. Further investigations revealed potential hardware and software sources of error which are not recognizable by trained technicians. These studies gave no evidence for systematic errors due to technician, team or device during the main SAPALDIA study. However, they revealed potential sources of error in modern devices, which function as "black boxes". Manufacturers should improve spirometry software to further enhance the technicians' attempts at accurate assessment.

PreviousNext
Back to top
Vol 8 Issue 3 Table of Contents
  • Table of Contents
  • Index by author
Email

Thank you for your interest in spreading the word on European Respiratory Society .

NOTE: We only request your email address so that the person you are recommending the page to knows that you wanted them to see it, and that it is not junk mail. We do not capture any email address.

Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
Variability of FVC and FEV1 due to technician, team, device and subject in an eight centre study: three quality control studies in SAPALDIA. Swiss Study on Air Pollution and Lung Disease in Adults
(Your Name) has sent you a message from European Respiratory Society
(Your Name) thought you would like to see the European Respiratory Society web site.
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Citation Tools
Variability of FVC and FEV1 due to technician, team, device and subject in an eight centre study: three quality control studies in SAPALDIA. Swiss Study on Air Pollution and Lung Disease in Adults
N Kunzli, U Ackermann-Liebrich, R Keller, AP Perruchoud, C Schindler
European Respiratory Journal Mar 1995, 8 (3) 371-376;

Citation Manager Formats

  • BibTeX
  • Bookends
  • EasyBib
  • EndNote (tagged)
  • EndNote 8 (xml)
  • Medlars
  • Mendeley
  • Papers
  • RefWorks Tagged
  • Ref Manager
  • RIS
  • Zotero

Share
Variability of FVC and FEV1 due to technician, team, device and subject in an eight centre study: three quality control studies in SAPALDIA. Swiss Study on Air Pollution and Lung Disease in Adults
N Kunzli, U Ackermann-Liebrich, R Keller, AP Perruchoud, C Schindler
European Respiratory Journal Mar 1995, 8 (3) 371-376;
del.icio.us logo Digg logo Reddit logo Technorati logo Twitter logo CiteULike logo Connotea logo Facebook logo Google logo Mendeley logo
Full Text (PDF)

Jump To

  • Article
  • Info & Metrics
  • PDF
  • Tweet Widget
  • Facebook Like
  • Google Plus One

More in this TOC Section

  • Lung volume reduction surgery versus conservative treatment in severe emphysema
  • Inhaled isotonic alkaline versus saline solution and radioaerosol clearance in chronic cough
  • Effect of moderate alcohol upon obstructive sleep apnoea
Show more Clinical Trial

Related Articles

Navigate

  • Home
  • Current issue
  • Archive

About the ERJ

  • Journal information
  • Editorial board
  • Reviewers
  • Press
  • Permissions and reprints
  • Advertising

The European Respiratory Society

  • Society home
  • myERS
  • Privacy policy
  • Accessibility

ERS publications

  • European Respiratory Journal
  • ERJ Open Research
  • European Respiratory Review
  • Breathe
  • ERS books online
  • ERS Bookshop

Help

  • Feedback

For authors

  • Instructions for authors
  • Publication ethics and malpractice
  • Submit a manuscript

For readers

  • Alerts
  • Subjects
  • Podcasts
  • RSS

Subscriptions

  • Accessing the ERS publications

Contact us

European Respiratory Society
442 Glossop Road
Sheffield S10 2PX
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 114 2672860
Email: journals@ersnet.org

ISSN

Print ISSN:  0903-1936
Online ISSN: 1399-3003

Copyright © 2022 by the European Respiratory Society