UNIVERSITY OF MALTA
FACULTY OF MEDICINE & SURGERY
PHARMACY DEPARTMENT
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE
PIC INDOLOR
®
ANEROID
SPHYGMOMANOMETER
Ref. No.
SOP/PD/210_02
Valid for:
2 years from approval
Page 1 of 8

UNIVERSITY OF MALTA
FACULTY OF MEDICINE & SURGERY
PHARMACY DEPARTMENT
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE
PIC INDOLOR
®
ANEROID
SPHYGMOMANOMETER
Ref. No.
SOP/PD/210_02
Valid for:
2 years from approval
1.
Scope
This Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) applies to the staff and students using the PiC Indolor
®
Aneroid Sphygmomanometer in the Pharmacy Practice
Resource Unit (PPRU) at the Pharmacy Department, University of Malta.
2.
Objective
To describe the procedure for the operation and maintenance of the PiC
Indolor
®
Aneroid Sphygmomanometer.
3.
Definitions
3.1.
Aneroid Sphygmomanometer: A device used to measure blood pressure. It consists of an inflatable cuff, a hand pump with a deflator valve and a dial gauge to display the obtained blood pressure readings.
3.2.
Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP): Minimum pressure in the arteries when the heart is at rest.
3.3.
Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP): Maximum pressure exerted when the heart is contracting.
4.
Responsibility
4.1.
The members of the Department of Pharmacy (staff and students) are responsible for following this SOP.
4.2.
The designated Laboratory Officer or Laboratory Assistant is responsible for ensuring that this SOP is followed.
Page 2 of 8

UNIVERSITY OF MALTA
FACULTY OF MEDICINE & SURGERY
PHARMACY DEPARTMENT
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE
PIC INDOLOR
®
ANEROID
SPHYGMOMANOMETER
Ref. No.
SOP/PD/210_02
Valid for:
2 years from approval
5.
Procedure
5.1.
Diagram of PiC Indolor® Aneroid Sphygmomanometer
5.2.
Operation
5.2.1.
Bare the patient’s upper left/right arm.
5.2.2.
Wrap the cuff [ 1 ] around the upper left/right arm.
5.2.3.
Check that the bottom of the cuff is 1-2cm above the inside of the elbow.
5.2.4.
Slip the end of the cuff into the metal ring [ 2 ].
5.2.5.
Secure the cuff onto the Velcro fastener and check that two fingers can still be inserted between the arm and the cuff.
5.2.6.
Adjust the cuff to position the cuff marking [ 3 ] over the artery.
5.2.7.
Instruct the patient to lay his or her arm on a table with palm turned upwards and to keep still during the measurement.
5.2.8.
Place the stethoscope chest piece below the cuff so that the membrane of the chest piece is resting against the inside of the bicep, where the artery is located.
5.2.9.
Rotate the deflator valve [ 4 ] on the hand bulb [ 5 ] anticlockwise to check that it is closed.
5.2.10.
Squeeze the hand bulb until the cuff pressure is 20-30 mmHg higher than the maximum expected blood pressure.
5.2.11.
Gently rotate the release valve clockwise to slowly start to release the air from the cuff. The cuff will deflate at a rate of 2-
3 mmHg/second.
5.2.12.
Wait until the first heart beat is heard.
Page 3 of 8

UNIVERSITY OF MALTA
FACULTY OF MEDICINE & SURGERY
PHARMACY DEPARTMENT
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE
PIC INDOLOR
®
ANEROID
SPHYGMOMANOMETER
Ref. No.
SOP/PD/210_02
Valid for:
2 years from approval
5.2.13.
Record the manometer [ 6 ] reading as soon as this first heart beat is heard. This corresponds to the systolic pressure.
5.2.14.
Gradually keep opening the release valve until the last heart beat is heard.
5.2.15.
Record the manometer reading when this last heart beat is heard. This corresponds to the diastolic blood pressure.
5.2.16.
Deflate all the air from the cuff.
5.3.
Maintenance
5.3.1.
Use a soft clean cloth to wipe the manometer.
5.3.2.
Use a moist cloth to gently rub the the outer surface of the cuff.
Page 4 of 8

UNIVERSITY OF MALTA
FACULTY OF MEDICINE & SURGERY
PHARMACY DEPARTMENT
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE
PIC INDOLOR
®
ANEROID
SPHYGMOMANOMETER
Ref. No.
SOP/PD/210_02
Valid for:
2 years from approval
5.4.
Flow Charts
5.4.1.
Operation
Start
Bare patient’s upper left/right arm
Wrap cuff [ 1 ] around left/right forearm
Check that bottom of cuff is 1-2cm above the inside of the elbow
Slip end of cuff into metal ring [ 2 ]
Secure cuff onto Velcro fastener and check that 2 fingers can still be
inserted between arm and cuff
Adjust cuff in such a way as to position cuff marking [ 3 ] over the artery
Instruct patient to lay his or her arm on table with palm turned upwards and to keep still during measurement
Place stethoscope chest piece below cuff so that membrane of chest piece is resting against the inside of bicep
Rotate deflator valve [ 4 ] on hand bulb [ 5 ] anticlockwise to check that it is closed
Squeeze hand bulb until cuff pressure is
20-30 mmHg higher than the maximum expected blood pressure
1
Page 5 of 8

UNIVERSITY OF MALTA
FACULTY OF MEDICINE & SURGERY
PHARMACY DEPARTMENT
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE
PIC INDOLOR
®
ANEROID
SPHYGMOMANOMETER
Ref. No.
SOP/PD/210_02
Valid for:
2 years from approval
1
Gently rotate release valve clockwise to slowly start to release air from cuff.
Cuff will deflate at rate of 2-3mmHg/sec
Wait until the first heart beat is heard
Record manometer [ 6 ] reading as soon as this first heart beat is heard.
This corresponds to the systolic pressure
Gradually keep opening release valve until last heart beat is heard
Record manometer reading when
this last heart beat is heard. This corresponds to the diastolic pressure
Deflate all air from cuff
End
5.4.2. Maintenance
Start
Use a soft clean cloth to wipe manometer
Use a moist cloth to gently rub
outer surface of cuff
End
Page 6 of 8

UNIVERSITY OF MALTA
FACULTY OF MEDICINE & SURGERY
PHARMACY DEPARTMENT
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE
PIC INDOLOR
®
ANEROID
SPHYGMOMANOMETER
Ref. No.
SOP/PD/210_02
Valid for:
2 years from approval
6.
Precautions
6.1.
Medical Device
6.1.1.
Do not inflate the sphygmomanometer above 300 mmHg since this could affect the calibration of the device.
6.1.2.
Avoid damaging the rubber parts with sharp, cutting objects.
6.1.3.
Do not expose the sphygmomanometer to extremes of temperature.
6.1.4.
Do not use chemicals or other detergents for cleaning purposes.
6.1.5.
Do not scrub, machine wash or dry clean the cuff.
6.1.6.
Ensure that its calibration is verified every 2 years by the supplier.
6.2.
Accurate Measurement
6.2.1.
Ensure that the patient is relaxed, still and is not speaking when measurement is being taken.
6.2.2.
Wait for 5 minutes until the pulse rate returns to normal, if the patient had been active, before taking measurement.
6.2.3.
Ensure that the patient is sitting down and that the cuff is positioned at heart level when taking measurement.
6.2.4.
Ensure that the measurements are performed on a bare arm, as circulation could be restricted.
6.2.5.
Ensure that the cuff is no too tight or too loose fitting as inacurrate readings may result.
6.2.6.
Wait 3-4 minutes between successive measurements.
7.
Reference
PiC Indolor. Deluxe handheld aneroid sphygmomanometer. Grandate: Artsana
S.p.A.
8.
Appendices
N/A
Page 7 of 8

UNIVERSITY OF MALTA
FACULTY OF MEDICINE & SURGERY
PHARMACY DEPARTMENT
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE
PIC INDOLOR
®
ANEROID
SPHYGMOMANOMETER
Ref. No.
SOP/PD/210_02
Valid for:
2 years from approval
9.
Revision History
Version Number
01
02
Amendments/ Reasons for change
Initial Release
Inclusion of subheading titles of
Procedure section in Table of Contents
Page 8 of 8