There are a few reasons why you may be getting noisy or unreadable recordings. Since KardiaMobile communicates with your smartphone via high-frequency ultrasound, it is important that you keep the device within a few inches of the microphone and eliminate any sources of electric interference. Here are some of the common things to look for:
- Confirm your smartphone or tablet is not plugged in or charging while recording an EKG
- Move away from sources of electrical interference such as large computer monitors or television screens
- Try to avoid areas with environmental noise like loud crowds, or running water.
- Be sure you don’t have headphones plugged into your smartphone
- If you wear hearing aids, be sure to turn them off
- Try cleaning the metal electrodes with a damp cloth. For more information on how to clean your device, visit the following article:
- Try moistening where the sensors contact your skin with a bit of water to improve conductivity with the electrodes.
- When recording from the hands, relax the arms and hands to reduce muscle noise. You may even rest forearms and hands on a flat surface, place the KardiaMobile EKG on the flat surface with the metal electrodes up, and let your fingers rest on the electrodes.
- Make sure that both you and the mobile device remain still during ECG recordings. Movement during recordings will cause noise in the tracing
If you have had your KardiaMobile for more than a year, you may need to replace the battery in your device. A depleted battery can possibly cause interference in recordings. For instructions on how to change the battery in your KardiaMobile, please select a link below based on which KardiaMobile you own.