Microlife Pf-100 Microlife Peak Flow & Asthma Meter - Expiratory Flow Pef and Fev1 Measurement

I'm very impressed with the device, it looks and feels to be good quality and is of good accuracy when taking readings. It comes with a two-tier zip case, USB cable for connecting to a laptop or PC, instruction manual, quick start guide and a spare mouthpiece.If you've used a PEF device before you will know how it works - the result is instant on the screen and shows firstly the PEF then after a few seconds the FEV1.You can record the results on your computer by either downloading the software from the Microlife website (easiest way) or using the disk that comes with the device.The setting up of the software is a bit fiddly, but once you play with it for 10 mins and get a hang of the dated interface it's fine.It DOES need an update, it's 2020 and the software is initially compatible with Windows 8... I can, however, confirm that it works on Windows 10 if anything a little laggy.You can add multiple users to the device and to the software so both you and your partner/family can use the device.They could increase the sales by updating the software and creating compatibility with macOS too, the device itself is fine.In summary, I'd recommend it - just be ready to have patience setting up the software.

This is brilliantly reliable and very easy to operate. Not only that, it is easy to clean after each use (comes with a spare mouth piece - so two people can use it). The results can be easily uploaded to Microsoft Health Vault (using the connection centre) which enables you to track your peak flow.

The unit appears to work well as a medical trials patient I have used many different types of Spirometer. This one gives readings in the range I expect for me and appears well constructed.The software works on win 10 but is a bit fiddly to use and the hand book doesn't cover it well.1. Copen software app. 2. Connect device to PC, 3 switch on device.You may find the software has some data in it already and you will need to delete this and download your patient dat and ID to the device before you use it. After that it appears to work fine giving highest readings over a selected time period, a graph and Peak flow and FEV1 data.Only 4 stars because software not covered in manual.

The peak flow reading is reasonably concordant with the old classic mini Wright mechanical PF meter, thought sometimes just a little bit higher. I think the FEV1 readings are definitely sensible too. It’s so great to have this handy equipment at home for everyday monitoring. But the fact the price dropped by 30pounds really does annoy me. The buttons are kind of hard to press and sometimes don’t bounce back, but other than that it does the job perfectly. Well worth the price.

This is the Pf100 digital peak flow meter by Microlife that measures both peak expiratory flow rate (peak flow, in L/min) and the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1, in L). I got it for £58.00 in August 2020. As an asthmatic who has had some instability and a course of oral steroids lately, I’ve tried to get back into good habits of doing my peak flow several times a day, ditto blood pressure, blood oxygen (SpO2) etc. I also wanted an ability to measure FEV1 as, in the era of the pandemic, I don’t want to go near my GP’s surgery at all and being able to measure that at home would be handy. Ideally I wanted a smartphone meter but they are £200+ and I could not justify that this month, so this looked like a good option as it logs data itself and can store 250 values and one can export them to PC. The software provided is on CD-ROM which probably tells you how long it has been since it was last updated - I have not tried out the software at all, as laptops don’t have optical drives nowadays and I’m a Mac user in any case. It can be downloaded from the Microlife website in English or Polish but only for MS Windows and there is no indication of compatibility i.e. does it work on Windows 10? How about older versions? I just type the values into my iPhone Health app which takes all of 10 seconds, far faster than plugging it into a PC to download the data! There is, however, a major, dangerous issue with not being able to use the software, which I will come onto later.Inside of the cardboard box, one is supplied with the software on CD-ROM, a plastic wall-mount that can hold the meter somewhere to remind you to use it every morning or whatever. That went in the bin as I’ve no desire to mount a peak flow meter on the wall! Then there is a black fabric zip-up carry case which is well-made and very smart. It has two compartments - one contains the instructions and USB cable and a spare mouthpiece, the other contains the meter in a wasteful plastic tray, a useful plastic sleeve to mount a paper sheet in with your personal warning levels (80% and 60% of personal best peak-flow are the top of amber and top of red action groups, respectively). There is also a pack of peak flow record sheets and two AAA batteries.The meter itself is based on a turbine similar to most spirometers but different to most peak flow meters which are based on how far one’s exhaled air can push a piston. The batteries go into a slot under one of the blue handles and the other one contains the USB cable socket and a button for adjusting the date and time - this is one of those old-fashioned ones you have to use a biro or a pin to push as it is inside of a hole - totally not necessary when it is covered by the blue plastic handle “lid” in use and can’t get knocked. Stupid design. Setting the date and time was otherwise easy and the instructions for use are very clear.When using, the FEV1 flashes up briefly and then the peak flow is displayed. When scroll through the memory, peak flow is displayed and FEV1 only flashes up briefly - quite irritating. There are red, amber and green indicators on one side of the screen that indicate one’s warning zones - major downside here is that 1) they default to a personal best of 500 L/min meaning amber and red warnings don’t show above 400 and 300 L/min, respectively - these are really very low, as is a 500 L/min personal best for many people. This CAN be changed but only via the software, which is not usable for anyone who doesn’t use Windows. I can imagine some elderly users may not want to or be able to use the software and if one can’t change the personal best from 500, the red and amber warning indicators MUST be disregarded!!! For example with my personal best of 710, my warnings are at 568 (amber) and 426 (red) - the meter in default state would call both of these “green”!!! It’s a shame one can’t alter it within the meter itself - serious design fault.So how does it fare? I’d first like to note I’ve been taking peak flow readings on myself for nearly 30 years since my teens and I know how to do it and my GP and my asthma nurse have confirmed my technique is correct. I always take triplicate readings. When using this meter I was rather surprised to find my peak flow (which has been great all week at 610-680 L/min) was 520 L/min - in my amber warning zone. I took my inhaler immediately as a result. My FEV1 I’ll discuss in a moment. I found the peak flow to be reproducible - I got similar readings several times in a row and if I blew far too weakly, I got a much lower value so it does actually respond. An hour later I took it again - 500 L/min - I was now starting to worry as I’m not responding to medication. I decided to check it on my Medi (Medicare Plus International) mechanical peak flow meter that I normally use. 680 L/min! To be absolutely sure I dug out my bulky Clement Clarke Standard Range (EU) meter (which is great it just uses more space in my work bag) - 660 L/min this time. Back to the digital meter and about 500 L/min again. It was consistently reading about 75% of what my trusted mechanical meters are reading. I mean, that IS better than it reading too high and making me think I’m fine when I’m not, but I don’t appreciate it making me think i was due an attack soon! I wonder if it’s because it has a turbine mechanism and that actually one can’t compare across different meter types, but in any case, I’m sticking to what I know and trust, thanks!As for FEV1, I don’t have another meter to calibrate against but got readings around 2.99 L, which is 72% of the expected value for my age and height in White men and that is consistent with my fairly mild asthma.It’s easy to use, fast, stores 250 time-stamped data points, can be downloaded to a Windows PC using the software on the CD ROM (or their website) and all of that is great but the inability to change the RAG boundaries without the software worries me, as does the inaccuracies in the peak flow readings coming out at 75% of the readings on mechanical meters. I think I will be returning this as that is either a fault or it isn’t fit for purpose. If you buy one check many times against your mechanical meters to see if there is the same issue!

I still have my manual Mini Wright peak flow meter. There can be huge differences in peak flow - for example the manual device says 700 while the digital reads 610.

I use this once or twice a day to monitor my asthma andthen I plot the results in an Excel spreadsheet.They tell you to take best of three but personally my first is always the highest.If you are phlemy you will need to check for blockage on the screen inside periodically.

Brilliant! Far better than all the other PF meters I have used.