AliveCor KardiaMobile 6-Lead EKG Monitor – Instant Results

I’ve owned a few low cost home EKG devices, and this is by far the best, but there are some drawbacks…

Pros:
– Device and app are easy to use to take an EKG.
– Creates a nice 6-lead reading that can be saved in a PDF and sent to doctors (several have said this is useful and helps).

Cons:
– Requires a paid subscription if you want it to tell you about more than the most basic results (it will ignore and not tell you certain things unless you pay).
– Requires a phone/app to use it.
– Not marked for orientation which can be a problem if you don’t use it often and remember (have to remember their company logo and which way is up, which isn’t obvious).
– To avoid the paid subscription, you have to go through extra steps to save the results/PDF of each reading.
– The paid subscription is a money grab which forces you to buy services you may not need so you can also unlock the full result reporting in the app, which other devices provide as part of the purchase cost.
– Very often doesn’t sense/read well so skin almost always has to be moistened in some way (never had this problem with other competing devices).

This takes an EKG by holding the device with two hands (thumb/finger holding each side of it) and placing the back of it on your leg just above the knee, and holding for 30 secs. The app is easy to start and indicates if it is reading and the progress. Then shows the results, allows you to add notes, and you can also save/export it as a PDF.

The results are very useful and good, though I found we often have to dampen the skin to get good contact and a good reading. The device is small enough to carry with you, and you can also use your ankle instead of your leg/knee for a 6 lead reading, or just your hands for a simpler 2 lead reading (like the lower cost model of this device).

I definitely recommend it, and it is great for catching those events that only occasionally happen, so you can them send/show them to the doc. It’s also useful for things like eliminating false worry, or recording things and adding notes, for them to be reviewed by your doctor. I don’t like they way they limit the app function (reporting certain detected conditions) unless you pay a monthly subscription fee to keep in unlocked, but it will report the most basic ones, and if you just send/show this to your doc for review, the subscription isn’t really needed.

I came down with a case of the A Fib last summer. Since great cardiologists are few and booked out for weeks, I decided to spend the money and purchase this Kardia 6-Lead device. At first, it worked great and it still does. It provides good directions for the use of the device and the app is easy to use and pair. My only concern is that the 6 lead quit working but the 1 lead still does work. I tried it on my husband, and the 6 lead worked. The device needs good skin contact to work correctly. My skin is on the drier side but with lotion on my legs, the device works great.

My cardiologist recommended this device to help manage my AFib. It is surprisingly easy to use, very quick, and incredibly convenient. Well worth the cost. Downloading your results and wrangling them into an email is a bit tricky, but if I can figure it out, anyone can. Also, I looked all over the thing trying to find a charging port, and eventually realized that it uses a small replaceable battery! Much like a watch battery. Supposedly it will last a year before needing to be replaced.

Eccellente strumento per tenere sotto controllo i battiti del cuore in qualsiasi momento, piccolo, di facile uso e trasporto ad un prezzo eccezionale!!

I bought this to have this diagnostic capability at home and in the field. I bought the Kardia unit specifically because it was the only FDA cleared device I found and because I read multiple reviews from cardiologists who liked it. It is easy to use and so far has seemed accurate.

I like the capability of doing 6-lead readings, and the potential for field adaptability is huge. However there are a few caveats… One, you must be in a comfortable and relaxed position for an accurate reading. If you are having to actively hold the unit in place or are pressing down on the pads, it will pick up a lot of muscle artifacts just like any other EKG would. Two, if you have mobility, joint, or other range of motion problems it can be difficult to get in a position that allows you to be comfortable and relaxed while simultaneously reaching both fingertip pads and your ankle.

I did a few test runs with this unit and shared them with a paramedic and critical care nurse. Both said the quality looked good and agreed with the device’s assessment (normal rhythm). I then took it to my next doctor’s appointment. The EKG tech looked at it and thought it was pretty cool and seemed to be accurate. Finally I ran this unit at the exact same time the tech ran a full 12-lead on me so I could compare, and the output was a match. So I would say this device is very accurate.

I was leery of the app and how much access to the data I would have based on some previous reviews, however I found that it does almost everything that I need without an expensive prescription. I can record my tests and keep a log, export (email / print) the ekg graphs, and the note feature is nice.
There are some analyses it does not perform without the subscription, which I find kind of silly – its already in the software and just not enabled, and if something like that is going on with my heart I definitely want to know and not have it withheld. I’m sure its great for some people but I don’t need the quarterly cardiologist review, and I don’t want my app dumbed-down just because I won’t buy a subscription that I don’t need. Perhaps Kardia would consider a one-time upgrade to enable the additional rhythms without subscribing to the doctor review.
The biggest issue I have is their app constatly berates you to upgrade and buy the subscription service. Its almost difficult to use the app because the in-app advertisements and misleading pages that keep pushing the service on you even after you’ve told it “no”. I really wish they would fix that. Its very frustrating and I almost returned the unit because of this, vut ultimately decided to keep it.

I live and work in a remote area, and really bought this device to give me more diagnostic capability in the field. After talking with a few seasoned paramedics including some who do maintenance and repair on professional fire/ems EKG units, I will likely be modifying my Kardia unit to accept standard snap-on EKG leads. I plan to solder button snaps onto each pad, which will allow the limb leads to be placed much more easily and on patients who can’t get into the necessary position for whatever reason. More importantly, the third lead can be moved around and although it is one slice at a time I can get a more complete picture of the heart when nothing else is available. I will do a lot of testing afterwards to see if there is any impact to the quality, and yes I know it’s not FDA certified for this modificiation etc. but the possibility here is amazing.
Kardia if you’re reading this: A version of this device that accepts actual wire leads and ideally has more total leads, and which is aimed at professional responders such as myself would be a game changer. For rural areas where volunteers are used extensively this could make a huge difference. I rarely have the fire truck there when I get on scene, and often we’re way back in the woods where lugging the equipment over rough terrain is difficult. Most of my gear is self-purchased and I don’t have a $20k Physio-control LifePak with me. But I would gladly buy a $200 or $300 portable unit like this out of pocket if it had these features. I would spend another $50 even on this unit if it just had detachable wire leads.