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When using the BASIC STATS... (or AVERAGE), MINIMUM VALUE...  or MAXIMUM VALUE... functions, a button labeled 'Use C.V.R.' is available.  This stands for Cinstant Volume Respirometry, and it opens a window that lets you set up the variables needed to compute O₂ or CO₂ exchange in a closed system.   In constant volume respirometry (or 'closed system' respirometry), the organism is placed in a sealed chamber, and over time its respiration changes the gas concentrations in the chamber.   You measure rates of gas exchange by determining gas concentrations (O₂ and/or CO₂ ) at the start and end of a period of measurement, and then using the cumulative difference in concentrations and the elapsed time to compute the average rate of change.

The most straightforward way to handle constant volume calculations with LabHelper and LabAnalyst is as follows:

• First, collect a sample or samples of 'initial' (unbreathed) and 'final' gas from the animal chamber(s) and inject them through a gas analyzer while continually recording the concentration (in %) with LabHelper.   If you have multiple samples, between injections of sample gas, flush the analyzer with reference gas (or fluid). You should get a data file with a series of 'peaks', one for each injection of 'final' gas (or fluid).

• Next, in LabAnalyst, use the baseline function to set the 'initial' values at zero.   The 'final' values now show the % change during the measurement period.  These peaks are what you analyze with the C.V.R. option.   For each peak, find the maximum deflection from baseline with the MAXUMUM VALUE option, set the C.V.R. parameters, and then switch on Use C.V.R..

Note that this option assumes that the data being analyzed are in units of % gas concentration and that baseline has already been corrected.   Click the 'Set C.V.R. Parameters...' button and, in the window that opens, specify gas type, chamber volume, elapsed time, chamber temperature, barometric pressure, initial relative humidity in the chamber (if the gas contains water vapor), the initial concentrations of O₂ and CO₂ (FiO2 and FiCO2), and the respiratory exchange ratio (RQ).  You also need to specify whether or not CO₂ is absorbed prior to oxygen analysis ('is excurrent CO2 absorbed?' button).  When done, click the 'Store Data and Close' button.

When C.V.R. data... is activated, the results window (example on the right) shows gas exchange rates in units of ml/min -- but note that only the mean value is computed as gas exchange (the SD, SE, etc.  are shown in their original units).  To switch off the C.V.R.  calculations, click the 'C.V.R.  data...' button.   Note that this is a “quick and dirty” CVR estimate; a more versatile CVR calculator is in the SPECIAL menu.