Frequently Asked Questions

Yes! We offer testing to everyone (community members, students, faculty, alumni). However, those that are current students/staff/faculty or alumni will get a small discount on their test.

Yes, BUT a parent or legal guardian must always be present during testing and be available to fill out the forms.

The Bod Pod is considered the functional gold standard in body composition measurement. The range of error for this test is ± 1 to 2.7%. It is the quickest and easiest test to get accurate body composition results. The only superior test is a DEXA scan, which we do not currently have in the lab.

This is dependent on the severity of your claustrophobia. There is an emergency button inside the Bod Pod for exiting and you are never alone in the room. There is also a window and plenty of space in front of your face. Remember each test is voluntary and you may withdraw your consent at any time! Many people that report having claustrophobia are able to complete the Bod Pod without any issues. 

No, the Bod Pod does not fill up with water. The Bod Pod uses Air Displacement Plethysmography (ADP).

The Bod Pod focuses on air displacement theory. Hair can easily trap air in it, especially if you have long hair, and affect the accuracy of the results. Putting a swim cap on prevents any air from getting displaced within the hair.

We use a Polar HR strap during the VO₂max tests. This is used for safety purposes and will give you an estimate of the max HR but will not give you a true HR maximum as that is not the purpose of this test. A true HR reading would be done with a stress testing ECG, which is not performed in the HP Lab.

You will be in the Bod Pod in total approximately 60-90 secs.

The results of your test should not be affected if the jewelry is small and light. Most seen are small permanent bracelets and stud earrings which have no effect on results.

Unfortunately not. The lab machines will give you a physical print out from your test and they do not have the capabilities for scanning or faxing. If you lost your paper, it is saved in the system and can be reprinted.