Electronic peak flow meters and EN 13826
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Do electronic peak flow meters have to adhere to the new "EU" (or EN 13826) scale or is the new EU scale applicable only for Mini Wright (mechanical) peak flow meters
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This answer is written from the UK with a UK perspective. I believe the following comments are true but will check.
The previous requirements for a peak flow meter to be available on NHS prescription was for it to have a scale close to the original (round and large) Wright peak flow meter. This is the meter which turned out to be non-linear, prescribable meters mimicked this. The original electronic meters were all ouside the price limits of prescribable meters and therefore not constrained by the NHS requirements. As far as I know they were all designed to measure as close as possible to true peak flow, ie to what is now the European standard. They should all now read much the same (I hope).
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Yes. All monitoring devices measuring Peak Expiratory Flow Rate must now comply with the new standard. In so doing, not only is the accuracy important as per displayed results, but also frequency response and linearity for example. These help ensure that these devices measure as closely as possible to real patients' lung function.
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