As a physician, I am pleased
I’ve been using the KardiaMobile 6-lead for about 4 years and am very happy with its abilities. I just purchased the KardiaMobile card and have started using it when I don’t have access to the 6-lead. The setup was easy. Just follow the prompts in the app to get established. To turn on, just squeeze the on button between your thumb and index finger and feel the click. To keep the device on, you have to touch the two electrodes with your thumbs within 10 seconds, or it turns off. I would have liked a longer time for this disconnect, as I usually am trying to look at the screen on my iPad/iPhone and need an extra finger to select my options. Still, once you get used to it, this becomes less of an issue. Holding the card between your fingers can result in a great deal of artifact on the tracing, due to minor shaking/vibrations of your thumb. With concentration, you can lessen this movement, or just place the card on a flat surface and use your index fingers. The card only provides a single lead tracing, but in most cases that is all you need. Rarely, one of the other 5 leads on the 6-lead device might help clarify the rhythm, but most of the time in the emergency department or sitting in the back of an ambulance, a single lead is sufficient. Remember the old medical student axiom, “fast or slow, regular or irregular”. That is what this device will tell you. A fast rhythm can make you feel exactly the same as a slow rhythm or an irregular rhythm. To be honest, the main advantage of this device is to capture a rhythm when you are away from your physician’s office so you can take it and show it to her/him. I can’t tell you how many times a patient will describe some irregular feeling in their pulse, yet when I hook them up to my monitor, their rhythm is stone cold normal. It is a game changer to have a copy of that weird rhythm captured by this device. As others have noted, this device won’t tell you if you are having a heart attack – nothing will replace an EKG. It will tell you “fast or slow, regular or irregular”. It takes a fair bit of training to sort out the various rhythms your heart can produce. An irregular rhythm is not always atrial fibrillation. Extra beats – SVE (PVCs/PACs); atrial flutter; various types of heart block; etc…, can all look similar on a single lead rhythm strip. The best strategy is to take your reading and show it to your physician. Don’t get hung up on trying to integrate with other technology, parameters, or communication. Just keep it simple. You can also take advantage of the cardiology consult that this company offers, for a quick assessment. Some reviewers complain about the battery life of only around 2 years. At $50 a year to tell me if my meds are keeping my PVCs under control, that’s a bargain, just skip one restaurant bill a year. Remember, regardless of what you think your rhythm shows, or the device says, if you feel bad, that’s your body speaking to you. Call 911 or get someone to take you to an ER – NOW!

Fit’s in wallet
My doctor suggested getting this card EKG so I’d have it on the go.Pros:Arrived quickly and was easy to set up.Packaged nicelyWorks great without extra purchase—EKG/Heartrate/Let’s me know my heartrate is normalFits in wallet easilyCons:*Lots of bloatware on the app, making it a little difficult to figure out what is the true app. I would have set it up even quicker without it.*Constant upsell in the app–even after setup. I’m an adult–once or twice is enough!*I found an old paper sleeve from my debit card which I put the Karia in to protect it while in my wallet. I would like to see one come with it.So far so good. Just had it 24 hours, so too soon to tell but will update. Today I just pulled it out, turned it on and scanned. In 30 seconds it gives you results, then cuts off about 5 seconds after that. I read the results on my phone app and put it away. It’s that simple to use. You can use it while holding it or place on a flat surface.UPDATE 12/14/2024 No issues. Glad I purchased it plus the peace of mind it offers in those moments you wonder what if something is happening.UPDATE 7/6/2025: Lowered to 2 stars. Will update on how Karia responds. About the last month I started getting some ‘unreadable due to interference” recordings. I’m sitting in the same place, same way, no new electonic devices or computer nearby. Even took it outside and today couldn’t get any results. Attempted 15 minutes various wasys. Battery is still showing full charge. Tried it many many times today. Had it 7.5 months. I did fill out the form for customer service to contact me. As of right now, I cann’t recommend—not just because of this but because it’s stressful the first few times it happened because you think it’s worked each time so IT MUST BE MY Heart. I need a device that works reliably, not that causes stress. Thankfully I could take my blood pressure and it gives me my heartrate, etc.UPDATE 8/3/2025 I heard from Kardia rep on 7/23/25 after sending them my info. Zero follow up since. I’ve lowered this to 1 Star. This card is only good if it works and considering I didn’t have it long, it should have lasted at least a year or 1.5 years. I cannot recommend at this point, but they sure know how to contact me for upgrades.

Card does not work. Very disappointed that this was disclosed

Very easy to use, so small it fits in my wallet. Saved records enable me to discuss with doctor. Excellent.

I purchased this device on the advice of my doctor. I installed the app on my phone as per the enclosed instructions only to find the device is not listed, and therefore cannot connect to the app. It appears that the device is no longer supported.