Recommendations for standardization and specifications in automated electrocardiography: bandwidth and digital signal processing. A report for health professionals by an ad hoc writing group of the Committee on Electrocardiography and Cardiac Electrophysiology of the Council on Clinical Cardiology,

R ecent technologic advances and published studies point to the need to reevaluate requirements for recording and analysis of electrocardiographic (ECG) data. Several issues have arisen from recent developments. First, approximately 52 million ECGs were processed by computer in 1987 (up from 4 million in 1975), and more than 15,000 digital ECG systems are now in use (up from 85 in 1975).1 In addition, computer-assisted electrocardiography is spreading rapidly from academic medical centers to private hospitals, clinics, and physicians' offices. A major factor in this diffusion of technology is the introduction of inexpensive (less than $5,000) stand-alone interpretative carts using microchip technology.' Second, a large number of ECG systems, particularly stand-alone carts, convert data into digital form immediately after amplification and process it digitally. This type of processing, combined with preamplifiers with lower noise characteristics than those available earlier, permits higher resolutions and signal-to-noise ratios than conventional linear analog systems. Third, high-frequency components and lowamplitude signals in the ECG known primarily to researchers are now regarded with wider interest. Distinguishing between the needs of researchers and requirements for routine ECG recording has become more difficult.

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