Which Metabolic Testing System Is Right for Your Facility?

Susque Micro • September 19, 2026

Metabolic testing can provide valuable information about how the body uses oxygen, produces energy, and responds to rest or exercise—but not every metabolic testing system is designed to do the same thing.

A nutrition practice measuring Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) has very different equipment needs than a hospital performing cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) or a research facility collecting detailed respiratory data.

Susquehanna Micro offers metabolic testing equipment from COSMED, with systems designed for applications ranging from resting energy expenditure and nutritional assessment to advanced exercise and cardiopulmonary testing.

So, which metabolic testing system is right for your facility? Let's look at some of the key differences.

Start With What You Need to Measure

Before comparing equipment, start with the purpose of your testing program. Depending on the system, metabolic testing equipment can be used to measure or assess:

Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR)
Resting Energy Expenditure (REE)
Oxygen consumption (VO₂)
Carbon dioxide production (VCO₂)
Respiratory quotient (RQ)
Exercise metabolism
Cardiopulmonary response to exercise

The right equipment depends not only on what you want to measure, but also who you're testing and where the equipment will be used. A compact RMR system may be ideal for a nutrition or weight-management program, while a hospital, university, or research facility may require a more advanced metabolic cart with broader testing capabilities.

COSMED FitMate: Simplified RMR Testing

The COSMED FitMate is designed to make resting metabolic testing more accessible for facilities that don't require the capabilities of a full metabolic cart. FitMate measures oxygen consumption to determine Resting Metabolic Rate and Resting Energy Expenditure, making it a practical option for applications such as:

Clinical nutrition
Weight management
Bariatric programs
Endocrinology
Medical weight-loss programs
Wellness and preventive health

Its compact desktop design also makes it well suited for facilities looking for a straightforward metabolic testing solution without adding a more complex laboratory system. FitMate may be a good fit if: your primary goal is measuring resting metabolism for nutrition, weight-management, or similar clinical applications.

Explore the COSMED FitMate →

COSMED Q-NRG: Indirect Calorimetry for Resting Energy Expenditure

The COSMED Q-NRG is a portable indirect calorimeter designed specifically for measuring Resting Energy Expenditure in spontaneously breathing subjects. Rather than relying solely on predictive equations to estimate energy requirements, indirect calorimetry evaluates respiratory gas exchange to provide individualized metabolic measurements.

Q-NRG provides a full metabolic assessment that includes measurements such as REE, VO₂, VCO₂, ventilation, and respiratory quotient.

Its portability also allows the system to be transported between rooms, making it particularly useful in healthcare environments where metabolic testing may need to come to the patient. Q-NRG may be a good fit if: your facility needs portable indirect calorimetry for clinical nutrition or individualized REE assessment.

Explore the COSMED Q-NRG →

COSMED Quark RMR: Advanced Resting Metabolic Testing

For facilities that need more advanced resting metabolic assessment, the COSMED Quark RMR uses indirect calorimetry to measure oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production. The system can be used for applications including:

Clinical nutrition
Nutritional assessment
Metabolic research
Resting metabolic measurement
Energy expenditure assessment

Quark RMR provides a more comprehensive approach to resting metabolic testing for organizations that require detailed metabolic data and advanced measurement capabilities.

Quark RMR may be a good fit if: your facility needs a dedicated, advanced indirect calorimetry system for clinical or research applications.

Explore the COSMED Quark RMR →

COSMED Quark CPET: When You Need Exercise Testing, Too

Not every facility is interested only in resting metabolism. For hospitals, research institutions, universities, sports medicine programs, and performance laboratories that need to evaluate physiological response during exercise, a cardiopulmonary exercise testing system may be more appropriate. The COSMED Quark CPET is designed for cardiopulmonary exercise testing and provides breath-by-breath analysis of respiratory gas exchange during exercise.

This allows facilities to evaluate measurements such as VO₂, VCO₂, ventilation, and other cardiopulmonary parameters during exercise rather than limiting assessment to resting conditions.

Quark CPET may be a good fit if: your testing program includes exercise physiology, cardiopulmonary assessment, research, sports medicine, or human performance.

Explore the COSMED Quark CPET →

Comparing COSMED Metabolic Testing Systems

For a quick starting point, here's how these systems differ:

CosMed Metabolic Testing Systems Comp Chart

This isn't simply a question of which metabolic testing system has the most capabilities. The best fit depends on the measurements your facility actually needs and how the equipment will be used.

Questions to Ask Before Choosing Metabolic Testing Equipment

Before investing in a metabolic testing system, consider a few practical questions.

What are you trying to measure?

If your primary goal is RMR or REE, you may not need an advanced exercise-testing system. If you need to measure respiratory gas exchange during exercise, you'll want equipment designed for CPET or exercise metabolism.

Who will you be testing?

Consider whether your primary population consists of nutrition or weight-management patients, hospital patients, research participants, athletes, or another group.

Where will testing take place?

A system that remains in a dedicated testing room has different requirements than equipment that needs to move between rooms or departments.

How much metabolic data do you need?

Some applications call for straightforward RMR or REE measurements, while clinical and research environments may require more detailed respiratory and metabolic data.

Do you need resting or exercise testing—or both?

This is one of the most important distinctions. Systems designed specifically for resting metabolic assessment serve a different purpose than equipment intended for cardiopulmonary exercise testing.

More Than Just the Equipment

Choosing metabolic testing equipment isn't only about comparing specifications on a product sheet. Your facility also needs to consider installation, training, service, preventative maintenance, calibration, parts, accessories, and long-term equipment support.

Susquehanna Micro provides metabolic and pulmonary testing equipment along with the technical knowledge and ongoing support healthcare, research, and performance facilities need throughout the life of their equipment. That relationship can be especially valuable when you're evaluating a new testing system and aren't sure which configuration is appropriate for your application.

Find the Right Metabolic Testing System for Your Facility

There isn't one metabolic testing system that's right for every facility. Whether you're looking for a compact system for RMR testing, portable equipment for Resting Energy Expenditure, an advanced indirect calorimeter, or a complete cardiopulmonary exercise testing system, the right choice starts with understanding what you need to measure.

Susquehanna Micro offers a range of COSMED metabolic testing solutions and can help you compare equipment based on your facility, testing applications, and measurement requirements. Explore our metabolic testing equipment or contact Susquehanna Micro to discuss which system may be right for your facility.