Cell Phone Users Manual

Some products that claim to shield the user from RF

absorption use special phone cases, while others

involve nothing more than a metallic accessory

attached to the phone. Studies have shown that these

products generally do not work as advertised.

Unlike “hand-free” kits, these so-called “shields” may

interfere with proper operation of the phone. The phone

may be forced to boost its power to compensate,

leading to an increase in RF absorption. In February

2002, the Federal trade Commission (FTC) charged two

companies that sold devices that claimed to protect

wireless phone users from radiation with making false

and unsubstantiated claims. According to FTC, these

defendants lacked a reasonable basis to substantiate

their claim.

9. What about wireless phone interference with

medical equipment?

Radio frequency energy (RF) from wireless phones can

interact with some electronic devices. For this reason,

FDA helped develop a detailed test method to measure

electromagnetic interference (EMI) of implanted cardiac

pacemakers and defibrillators from wireless telephones.

This test method is now part of a standard sponsored

by the Association for the Advancement of Medical

instrumentation (AAMI). The final draft, a joint effort by

FDA, medical device manufacturers, and many other

groups, was completed in late 2000. This standard will

allow manufacturers to ensure that cardiac pacemakers

and defibrillators are safe from wireless phone EMI.

FDA has tested hearing aids for interference from

handheld wireless phones and helped develop a

voluntary standard sponsored by the Institute of

Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE). This

standard specifies test methods and performance

requirements for hearing aids and wireless phones so

that no interference occurs when a person uses a

compatible phone and a compatible hearing aid at the

same time. This standard was approved by the IEEE in

2000.

FDA continues to monitor the use of wireless phones for

possible interactions with other medical devices. Should

harmful interference be found to occur, FDA will conduct

testing to assess the interference and work to resolve

the problem.