These are some of the most frequently asked questions about getting started with Labfront.
Using Labfront
Do participants need a smartphone to use Labfront?
What wearable device is recommended to use with Labfront?
Is Labfront compatible with non-Garmin devices?
Labfront Companion and Garmin Connect Apps
How often do participants need to open the Labfront Companion app to sync data?
Is the data displayed in the Garmin Connect available on Labfront?
Wearable Devices and Physiological Data
How accurate is my Garmin device for measuring physiological data?
What are some best practices to help optimize accuracy with wearables?
Can I use heart rate data to derive Heart Rate Variability (HRV)?
Participant Management
Can researchers send notifications or reminders to participants to complete tasks?
Data Management
What does Labfront do with the data collected from participants?
Who owns the physiological data collected from participants?
Is there a way for developers to download the data programmatically with an SDK or similar?
Can I import the data into Microsoft Excel, MatLab, SBSS or other apps?
Can I see a sample of the downloadable data format?
Other
Does Labfront provide support for research grants or IRB applications?
Using Labfront
Do participants need a smartphone to use Labfront?
Yes, participants will need either an Android or iOS smartphone to use the Labfront platform.
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 4 or 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→
Is Labfront compatible with non-Garmin devices?
Yes, Labfront is also compatible with the Movesense HR2 and Movesense Medical and we plan on adding more compatible devices to our platform.
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, all 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 (IBI) for calculating participants’ heart rate variability (HRV).
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
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?
Yes, 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?
Does Labfront provide support for research grants or IRB applications?
We’ve successfully worked with many partners to complete research grants and IRB applications.
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.
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