Which term is the mark made on the ECG paper that indicates the ECG is standardized?

Which term is the mark made on the ECG paper that indicates the ECG is standardized?

• A. Standardization
• B. Standardization mark
• C. Stylus
• D. T wave

Answer: (B)

The key idea here is calibration of the ECG tracing. The mark on the paper that shows the tracing is standardized is called the standardization mark. It’s a calibration reference printed by the ECG machine to confirm that the recording uses the correct paper speed and amplitude sensitivity (so that 10 mm on paper equals 1 mV, and the speed is the standard 25 mm/s). This mark isn’t part of the heart’s electrical activity—the stylus is the recording pen, and the T wave is just one part of the ECG waveform. Seeing the standardization mark tells you the tracing can be interpreted accurately.

The key idea here is calibration of the ECG tracing. The mark on the paper that shows the tracing is standardized is called the standardization mark. It’s a calibration reference printed by the ECG machine to confirm that the recording uses the correct paper speed and amplitude sensitivity (so that 10 mm on paper equals 1 mV, and the speed is the standard 25 mm/s). This mark isn’t part of the heart’s electrical activity—the stylus is the recording pen, and the T wave is just one part of the ECG waveform. Seeing the standardization mark tells you the tracing can be interpreted accurately.