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RER

RER

Respiratory Exchange Ratio (RER) is the ratio between the volume of CO2 being produced by the body and the amount of O2 being consumed. This value of this ratio gives us an indication as to whether the body is operating aerobically or anaerobically.

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RER
RER

Signal Overview

RER is typically measured by sampling gas being expired by a person or animal and comparing how the ratio of O2 and CO2 compares to that of the surrounding air. This is often done by affixing a mask around the mouth and nose and using a system of tubing and valves to feed gases to both a flow measurement device and a gas analyzer. Whole body chambers are sometimes more convenient than masks, particularly if working with smaller animals.

An average human has an RER at rest of around 0.8, although this can vary a bit depending on diet and other factors. During a stress test, RER will typically gradually increase to a peak of about 1.2 (again variable depending on the individual). An RER of 1.0 is the anaerobic threshold, the point at which the body begins to metabolize sugar using the less efficient anaerobic pathway and build up lactic acid.

As a rule of thumb, a resting RER of about 0.7 indicates that fats are being used as the body’s main fuel source while 1 means mostly carbohydrates are being used. RER’s between these values indicate a mix.

Signal
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LabChart

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LabChart software is designed specifically for life science data and provides up to 32 channels for data display and analysis options that are powerful and easy to use. With auto-recognition of ADI and LabChart Compatible hardware, multi-window views, one touch recording, simultaneous recording from multiple devices, specialized preconfigured settings, easy sharing options and an interface that can be customized to show only the features you want to use.

Calibrating the gas analyzer

RER measurements are very sensitive to small errors in CO2 readings from the gas analyzer. Ensuring that you have properly calibrated the analyzer with a gas of known CO2/O2 concentrations before completing an experiment is essential. The built-in calibration tool in LabChart’s Metabolic Module makes running through this calibration easy.

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Features and Add-Ons

Additional acquisition and analysis options to support your RER analysis:

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Thank you for your interest in RER. Please complete and submit the form below and an ADInstruments representative will aim to get in touch within one working day. If you’d like to speak to someone immediately, office contact information is available from the contact page.

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