The aim of this study was to compare the results of 3-hour postprandial esophageal pH recordings obtained simultaneously from a standard Beckmann pH recorder and a commercially available fully automated pH recording device, "pH 60" in 30 subjects. Both apparatuses were connected to the same pH probe and to a unique chart recorder to obtain simultaneous pH graphic tracings. The percentage of time between each pH level below pH 5, the percentage of time with pH less than 4 and Kaye's score were determined hourly and for the overall recording time. The pH graphic traces in both apparatuses were strictly identical demonstrating the accuracy of the analog-to-digital converter and the memory module to record pH changes. Moreover, we found a significant correlation (p less than 0.01) and a good overall agreement for all compared parameters between manual and computerized analysis. This study documents that the commercially available ambulatory esophageal pH instrument studied produces accurate data for the diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux.