• Use of noncalibrated, nonvalidated, nonmaintained device
• Use of a cuff of incorrect size
• Patient movement during measurement
• Patient talking during the measurement
• Incorrect placement and/or orientation of the cuff
• Incorrect positioning of the patient
• Use of inaccurate measurement technique
  • Incorrect positioning of the limb used for measurement
  • Inflation of cuff that is too rapid
  • Deflation of cuff that is too rapid (faster than 2 to 3 mm Hg per second)
• Environmental noise
• Failure to allow for a rest period prior to measurement
• Incorrect interpretation
• Reliance on blood pressures measured at a single occasion

Source: Adapted from Muntner, P., Shimbo, D., Carey, R. M., Charleston, J. B., Gaillard, T., Misra, S., Myers, M. G., Ogedegbe, G., Schwartz, J. E., Townsend, R. R., Urbina, E. M., Viera, A. J., White, W. B., & Wright, J. T. Jr. (2019). Measurement of blood pressure in humans. A scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Hypertension, 73(5), e35-e66. https://doi.org/10.1161/HYP.0000000000000087; Whelton, P. K., Carey, R. M., Aronow, W. S., Casey, D. E. Jr., Collins, K. J., Dennison Himmelfarb, C., DePalma, S. M., Gidding, S., Jamerson, K. A., Jones, D. W., MacLaughlin, E. J., Muntner, P., Ovbiagele, B., Smith, S. C. Jr., Spencer, C. C., Stafford, R. S., Taler, S. J., Thomas, R. J., Williams, K. A. Sr., … Wright, J. T. Jr. (2018). 2017 ACC/AHA/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/AGS/APhA/ASH/ASPC/NMA/PCNA Guideline for the prevention, detection, evaluation, and management of high blood pressure in adults. Hypertension, 71(6), e13-e115. https://doi.org/10.1161/HYP.0000000000000065