Lactate scout lactate test computer software and cable

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Lactate Scout - Software

We originally sold a PC cable but the newer Lactate Scout analyzers use bluetooth.

Lactate Scout Vet does not have software capability

Once the data has been imported into the charting software, it is possible to create charts of an athlete's step test and to compare each test with a previous test or with a test for another athlete.

Creating a Chart

Step 1

Data is imported by launching the software, with the Bluetooth connection hooked up and the analyzer turned on. A blank software screen appears first. To import data, click on the lower leftmost button (Receive data).

The data will appear in the "Tests" window in the bottom left part of the screen. There is a green M in each line, which indicates that it is an individual reading. The default test type is labeled Treadmill. Both these designations can be changed manually within the software program. When you select one or more lines in the Test Window, they appear in the lower right window "Measuring data". This window is referred to as the "Values" window in the instructions. For example, reading number 022 is selected and it appears in the Values window. The effort level and heart rate will be entered manually later.

Step 2

All the data for January 17th, 2006 is highlighted in the Tests window and the corresponding readings appear in the Values window. In the edit menu at the top there is an option to convert the data to a step test.

Step 3

When the option to convert the data to a step test is selected, the individual data lines in the Tests window disappear and a single line with a brown S designation replaces them indicating that the data is now a step test associated with this line. All the data in the Values window is now arranged in time order with the most recent last. Some of the information for the step test such as the effort level and heart rate is still missing. The duration of 3 minutes is the default duration. But for this test the athlete actually used 5 minute stages and this will be changed later.

Step 4

Next the data for the second test conducted on March 12th was selected.

Step 5

The data for the second testing session has also been converted into the step test format.

Step 6

The next step is to change some of the parameters of the test. The first step test on January 17th is selected. Click the Edit test parameter button at the bottom and a dialog box appears. Choose ergometer instead of treadmill because this was a cycle ergometer test performed on a trainer. The initial effort level of the test was 50 watts. Each additional step or stage in the step test was 30 W higher. The duration of each step was 5 minutes and the method of analysis was the 4.0 mmol/l model of Mader. The lactate curve will be generated from the data by a mathematical process called a 3rd degree polynomial. This just smoothes the curve and is nothing to worry about.

Step 7

Notice the data in the Values window. The duration is 5 minutes, the effort level now indicates power or watts and the first value starts at 50 watts. The heart rate has been entered manually for each stage. The lactate values were those downloaded from the analyzer.

Step 8

Click on the Display test/redraw chart button and the software draws the curve in the main window or "Graphics Display" window based on the lactate readings and the mathematical adjustment. The heart rate is also plotted. A box indicates where the 4.0 mmol/l level is located in terms of power (watts) and heart rate. The athlete may adjust training intensities based on these readings.

Step 9

The parameters for the test on March 12th are now adjusted the same way. This time the starting value was 110 watts.

Step 10

The data set for the second test is modified and heart rates are entered. The Display test button is pushed and the curve for the March 12th test is drawn. It is possible to print each chart and the accompanying data.

Step 11

Both tests can be charted at the same time by using the checkboxes in the Tests box. The yellow boxes indicate the effort levels and heart rates at 4.0 mmol/l for each test. The software only allows for two tests to be compared at one time. So it is possible to compare any two tests or any two athletes using one test from each.

Comments

It is possible to program the analyzer to group lactate readings into a step test at the time of the step test. The subsequent readings are then grouped together into a step test when they are imported into the graphing software. We recommend that the user not do this. It requires more steps to set up the analyzer to do this and it then limits how you can use the data once it is in the computer. Once you have labelled the data at the time of measurement, you cannot change this designation in the program. If you prefer to use this option it is available.

It is also possible to classify a data reading at the time of the test as a preliminary or resting reading or as a recovery or after reading. This too can be done later in the graphing software. We recommend you do it at this later stage because it is easier, and can be changed later. Also many users never use these preliminary or after readings for any analysis of the results.

We originally sold a PC cable but the newer Lactate Scout analyzers use bluetooth. Lactate Scout Vet does not have software capability

We originally sold a PC cable but the newer Lactate Scout analyzers use bluetooth.

Lactate Scout Vet does not have software capability