[Comparative analyses of the reliability of automatic external defibrillators]

Automatic external defibrillators are gaining increasing acceptance. Last year 6000 devices were installed in Germany. Since the average user has only limited medical knowledge, high demands have to be made on the automatic ECG diagnosis (fibrillation detection). Within the framework of this study a fully automatic test system that permits an objective comparison of the performance of the various devices available on the market was constructed. Older devices in particular do not always meet the requirements defined by international standards with regard to sensitivity and specificity. In addition, company philosophy appears to differ in terms of the preferential emphasis on sensitivity or specificity. Purchasers of such devices need take these findings into consideration.