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Getting Started

Getting Started FAQs

Top FAQs About Labfront

These are some of the most frequently asked questions about getting started with Labfront.

Using Labfront

Do participants need a smartphone to use Labfront? Is there an app?

Yes, participants will need either an Android or iOS smartphone to use the Labfront app and/or Garmin Connect.

Participants will use the Labfront app to sync data and complete tasks. The app can be downloaded here.

Can one device be used with multiple participants?

Yes, the same device can be used for multiple participants. However, there are some important things to keep in mind:

When passing on the watch from one participant to another, you will need to reset the device to factory settings.
Each participant would also have to have their own participant slot in Labfront.

Previously collected data will remain on Labfront, as long as you don't actively delete it.

What wearable device is recommended to use with Labfront?

For the most affordable and compact device for continuous data capture, we suggest using the Garmin vívosmart 5. If you’d like a bigger display, longer battery life, and more sensors, then we recommend using the Garmin Venu® Sq.

If you're interested in an ECG heart monitor and/or IMU movement sensor, we recommend the

Movesense Medical or Movesense HR2

View the latest list of compatible devices here→

What devices are compatible with Labfront?

Labfront is compatible with select Garmin, Movesense and Dexcom devices. While we have plans to integrate Apple and Fitbit devices, they are not yet compatible with Labfront.

View the latest list of compatible devices here. Please feel free to contact us if there is a device you want to use in your study that is not on the list and we can work towards fulfilling your request.

Labfront Companion and Garmin Connect Apps

How often do participants need to open the Labfront Companion app to sync data?

We recommend opening the Labfront Companion app at least once per day to sync participant data.

Is the data displayed in the Garmin Connect available on Labfront?

Yes, the data that is available through Garmin Connect is also available in Labfront. We can also collect better quality physiological data such as the beat-to-beat interval (BBI) for calculating participants’ heart rate variability (HRV) as well as 3-axis accelerometer data and sleep actigraphy.

Wearable Devices and Physiological Data

How accurate is my Garmin device for measuring heart rate, Sp02 or other physiological data?

Garmin devices have been used successfully for physiological data collection across many different types of research projects, including clinical trials. As with any wearable sensor, the quality of data collection depends on the amount of extra signal noise. Device fit, device usage, and motion intensity all affect the resulting accuracy. For a list of best practices, see this related question: What are some best practices to help optimize for accuracy from wearables?

For more tips and advice about getting the best performance for heart rate accuracy, please visit support.garmin.com/heart-rate.
For more tips and advice about getting the best performance out of your Garmin device, please visit support.garmin.com.
For further details about pulse ox and heart rate accuracy, please visit garmin.com/data-accuracy
For a comprehensive list of studies using Garmin devices, check the Garmin Health Research Library

What are some best practices to help optimize for accuracy with wearables?

Many factors may affect the accuracy of your wearable device for measuring physiological data, including the device fit and level of activity/motion. For this reason, we recommend the following tips:

Fit matters: Make sure all participants know how to correctly wear said wearable device.

More samples, more insights: Collect extra samples and average them to get more accurate representations.

Less movement, higher accuracy: Try to take measurements during low activity periods when possible, such as when one is sitting at a desk or sleeping.

For more tips and advice about getting the best performance for heart rate accuracy from Garmin devices, please visit support.garmin.com/heart-rate.
For more tips and advice about getting the best performance out of your Garmin device, please visit support.garmin.com.

Can I use heart rate data to derive Heart Rate Variability (HRV)?

Heart rate interval (also known as RRI/IBI/BBI) is the time between each individual heartbeat. RR-Interval captured via ECG is available from Movesense devices. BBI captured through the pulse can be obtained from Garmin wearables. If you want to derive heart rate variability (HRV) from Garmin devices, please make sure to use collect the beat-to-beat (BBI) data.

If you are using HRV to get stress, you may consider using Garmin’s Stress Level metric. For more information about Stress Level visit support.garmin.com/stress-level.

Participant Management

Can researchers send notifications or reminders to participants to complete tasks?

They sure can! Read more about using Labfront's notifications feature.

Data Management

What does Labfront do with the data collected from participants?

Labfront does not have access to your data; it is stored in an encrypted format at rest. We pride ourselves on transparency and we fundamentally believe in data privacy rights.

Who owns the physiological data collected from participants?

You will own your data and we will not access it. Our privacy and security policies are very strict (including not accessing your project data). These standard policies are usually enough to support grant applications, but we can provide additional guidance or information if needed.

Is there a way for developers to download the data programmatically with an SDK or similar?

Please contact hello@labfront.com for more information on how developers can access the data programmatically.

Can I import the data into Microsoft Excel, MatLab, SBSS, or other apps?

Yes, we provide the data in CSV formats that may be imported into popular data analytics apps.

Can I see a sample of the downloadable data format?

You sure can! Take a look at a sample of our data here.

Pricing

What is the main difference between the Advanced and Basic plans?

The key difference between the Basic and Advanced plans is data resolution. The Advanced plan allows for customizable sampling rates, enabling higher-resolution data collection, such as BBI and sleep actigraphy.

What counts as a participant? Is it by device?

With regards to participant count, every new participant that is created to collect data in Labfront counts as one participant. For example, if you use 10 participants on one device, it would count as 10 participant slots.

Other

Does Labfront provide support for research grants or IRB applications?

We’ve successfully worked with many partners to complete research grants and IRB applications. You can view our IRB documentation here.

We recommend researchers provide our privacy and security policies, which are typically enough to support IRB or grant applications, but we can provide additional support or information as needed.

View all of our privacy and security documents.

For Advanced accounts, we provide direct support for research grants or IRB applications. Please reach out to support@labfront.com if you have questions about the grant or IRB application process.

For both Free and Basic accounts, we provide information and resources online to help you throughout the application process.

Pilot Testing?

Check out our top tips when testing Labfront →

Can you provide an overview of your product and its features?

Labfront is designed to help researchers collect, analyze, and derive insights from wearable device data.

Labfront integrates seamlessly with a variety of wearables, providing advanced analytics and customizable features to support scientific research in fields such as sleep, stress, and overall physiological monitoring.

Capture granular physiological data, custom surveys, and event markers--all in one place and conveniently timestamped.

Labfront is IRB-approved and both HIPAA and GDPR-compliant.

View security documentation→