When printing or reviewing a 1-Minute Breathing Assessment in emWave Pro Plus, you may occasionally encounter a system notification labeled Quality Warning: Medium. This indicates that the session data is partially corrupted due to “artifacts.”
1. What Causes a Quality Warning?
This warning is triggered when the software detects a gap or irregularity in the incoming pulse stream.
-
Artifacts: These are essentially “noise” in the data. On your live graph screen, these appear as red lines.
-
Signal Loss: Even a few seconds of lost contact between the sensor and the skin can compromise the precision required for a professional HRV assessment.
2. How to Resolve the Issue
A Quality Warning does not indicate a software or hardware failure. It is almost always related to the physical setup of the session.
-
Sensor Placement: Ensure the sensor is securely attached to the fleshier part of the earlobe (closer to the cheek) or correctly positioned over the finger pulse point.
-
Minimize Movement: Because assessments are highly sensitive, any movement can create artifacts. Ask the subject to sit as still as possible and avoid talking.
-
Temperature: Cold extremities can reduce blood flow, making it harder for the sensor to find a pulse. Briefly warming the earlobe or hands can help.
3. Pro Tip: Test Before You Assess
To avoid wasting time on a corrupted assessment, try running a Regular Session first. This allows you to monitor the heart rhythm graph and ensure you have a clean, stable pulse wave (black line, no red lines) before officially starting the 1-minute assessment timer.
Need further assistance? If you continue to get quality warnings despite correct placement and stillness, please contact HeartMath Technical Support.