Criterion-related validity of the thermodilution cardiac output techni
que for cardiac output measurement has to have a high correlation (r =
.91 to .98) with the direct Fick method, the gold standard of cardiac
output measurement. Issues that can affect validity of the measuremen
ts include the position of the pulmonary artery catheter, the rate of
injection of the indicator solution, the volume and temperature of the
injectate, the timing of the injection of indicator solution during t
he respiratory cycle, the position of the subject, and the presence of
concomitant infusions. Variation in measurement can be limited by con
sidering the delivery system for the indicator solution, by recording
time-temperature cardiac output curves, and by considering normal biol
ogic variations.