Question

What is the standard recording speed used for measuring amplitude and duration of waveforms in an electrocardiographic strip?

1) 5 large boxes = 1 second
2) 15 large boxes = 1 second
3) 30 large boxes = 1 second
4) 25 mm/sec

Answer 1

The standard recording speed for electrocardiographic strips is 25 mm/sec. Therefore, the correct option is 4; knowing this speed is vital for accurate ECG analysis and heart rate determination.

Step-by-step explanation:

The standard recording speed for measuring amplitude and duration of waveforms in an electrocardiographic strip is 25 mm/sec. At this speed, 1 small box on the ECG paper represents 0.04 seconds, and 5 small boxes, which make up a large box, represent 0.2 seconds. Therefore, to calculate the duration of 1 second, you would need 5 large boxes, which equates to 25 small boxes (5 x 5). This equates to 50 mm on the ECG paper at the standard speed of 25 mm/sec.

As such, it would be incorrect to say that 5 large boxes equals 1 second, or that 15 or 30 large boxes equal 1 second. The correct option for the standard recording speed is option 4. Proper understanding of the ECG speed is important to accurately determine the heart rate and for the diagnosis of various heart conditions using the ECG analysis.