diff --git a/src/misc/Makefile b/src/misc/Makefile
index 346a9a5..06d0dd5 100644
--- a/src/misc/Makefile
+++ b/src/misc/Makefile
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ INC += pv/sharedVector.h
 INC += pv/templateMeta.h
 INC += pv/current_function.h
 INC += pv/pvUnitTest.h
+INC += pv/reftrack.h
 
 LIBSRCS += byteBuffer.cpp
 LIBSRCS += bitSet.cpp
@@ -38,3 +39,4 @@ LIBSRCS += localStaticLock.cpp
 LIBSRCS += typeCast.cpp
 LIBSRCS += parseToPOD.cpp
 LIBSRCS += debugPtr.cpp
+LIBSRCS += reftrack.cpp
diff --git a/src/misc/pv/reftrack.h b/src/misc/pv/reftrack.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d4b8052
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/misc/pv/reftrack.h
@@ -0,0 +1,149 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright information and license terms for this software can be
+ * found in the file LICENSE that is included with the distribution
+ */
+#ifndef REFTRACK_H
+#define REFTRACK_H
+
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+
+#include <map>
+#include <string>
+#include <ostream>
+
+#include <stdlib.h>
+
+#include <epicsVersion.h>
+
+#ifndef VERSION_INT
+#  define VERSION_INT(V,R,M,P) ( ((V)<<24) | ((R)<<16) | ((M)<<8) | (P))
+#endif
+
+#ifndef EPICS_VERSION_INT
+#  define EPICS_VERSION_INT VERSION_INT(EPICS_VERSION, EPICS_REVISION, EPICS_MODIFICATION, EPICS_PATCH_LEVEL)
+#endif
+
+#if EPICS_VERSION_INT>=VERSION_INT(3,15,1,0)
+#  include <epicsAtomic.h>
+#  define REFTRACK_USE_ATOMIC
+#endif
+
+#ifdef REFTRACK_USE_ATOMIC
+#  define REFTRACE_INCREMENT(counter) ::epics::atomic::increment(counter)
+#  define REFTRACE_DECREMENT(counter) ::epics::atomic::decrement(counter)
+#else
+#  define REFTRACE_INCREMENT(counter) do{}while(0)
+#  define REFTRACE_DECREMENT(counter) do{}while(0)
+#endif
+
+#include <shareLib.h>
+
+namespace epics {
+
+//! Register new global reference counter
+epicsShareFunc
+void registerRefCounter(const char *name, const size_t* counter);
+
+//! Remove registration of global reference counter (if dynamically allocated)
+epicsShareFunc
+void unregisterRefCounter(const char *name, const size_t* counter);
+
+//! Fetch current value of single reference counter
+epicsShareFunc
+size_t readRefCounter(const char *name);
+
+//! Represent a snapshot of many reference counters
+class epicsShareClass RefSnapshot
+{
+public:
+    //! A single count
+    struct Count {
+        size_t current;
+        ssize_t delta; //!< current - previous
+        Count() :current(0u), delta(0) {}
+        explicit Count(size_t c, ssize_t d) :current(c), delta(d) {}
+        bool operator==(const Count& o) const
+        { return current==o.current && delta==o.delta; }
+    };
+
+private:
+    static const Count zero;
+    typedef std::map<std::string, Count> cnt_map_t;
+    cnt_map_t counts;
+public:
+    typedef cnt_map_t::const_iterator iterator;
+    typedef cnt_map_t::const_iterator const_iterator;
+
+    /** Fetch values of all reference counters.
+     *
+     * This involves many atomic reads, not a single operation.
+     */
+    void update();
+
+    const Count& operator[](const std::string& name) const
+    {
+        cnt_map_t::const_iterator it(counts.find(name));
+        return it==counts.end() ? zero : it->second;
+    }
+
+    iterator begin() const { return counts.begin(); }
+    iterator end() const { return counts.end(); }
+    size_t size() const { return counts.size(); }
+
+    inline void swap(RefSnapshot& o)
+    {
+        counts.swap(o.counts);
+    }
+
+    friend RefSnapshot operator-(const RefSnapshot& lhs, const RefSnapshot& rhs);
+};
+
+/** Compute the difference lhs - rhs
+ *
+ * Returned RefSnapshot has Count::current=lhs.current
+ * and Count::delta= lhs.current - rhs.current
+ */
+epicsShareFunc
+RefSnapshot operator-(const RefSnapshot& lhs, const RefSnapshot& rhs);
+
+//! Print all counters with a non-zero delta
+epicsShareFunc
+std::ostream& operator<<(std::ostream& strm, const RefSnapshot& snap);
+
+//! Helper to run a thread which periodically prints (via show() )
+//! global reference counter deltas.
+class epicsShareClass RefMonitor
+{
+    struct Impl;
+    Impl *impl;
+public:
+    RefMonitor();
+    ~RefMonitor();
+
+    void start(double period=10.0);
+    void stop();
+    bool running() const;
+
+    //! call show() with current snapshot
+    void current();
+protected:
+    //! Default prints to stderr
+    //! @param complete when false show only non-zero delta, when true show non-zero count or delta
+    virtual void show(const RefSnapshot& snap, bool complete=false);
+};
+
+} // namespace epics
+
+extern "C" {
+#endif /* __cplusplus */
+
+/** Fetch and print current snapshot
+ * @return NULL or a char* which must be free()'d
+ */
+char* epicsRefSnapshotCurrent();
+
+#ifdef __cplusplus
+}
+#endif /* __cplusplus */
+
+#endif // REFTRACK_H
diff --git a/src/misc/reftrack.cpp b/src/misc/reftrack.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2031620
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/misc/reftrack.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,292 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright information and license terms for this software can be
+ * found in the file LICENSE that is included with the distribution
+ */
+
+#include <iostream>
+#include <sstream>
+#include <stdexcept>
+#include <memory>
+
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <string.h>
+
+#include <epicsString.h>
+#include <epicsGuard.h>
+#include <epicsMutex.h>
+#include <epicsEvent.h>
+#include <epicsThread.h>
+#include <epicsTime.h>
+
+#define epicsExportSharedSymbols
+#include <pv/pvdVersion.h>
+#include "pv/reftrack.h"
+
+namespace {
+
+#ifndef REFTRACK_USE_ATOMIC
+static inline
+size_t readref(const size_t *ref)
+{
+    volatile const size_t *vref = ref;
+    return *vref;
+}
+#endif
+
+typedef epicsGuard<epicsMutex> Guard;
+typedef epicsGuardRelease<epicsMutex> UnGuard;
+
+struct refgbl_t {
+    epicsMutex lock;
+    typedef std::map<std::string, const size_t*> counters_t;
+    counters_t counters;
+} *refgbl;
+
+void refgbl_init(void *)
+{
+    try {
+        refgbl = new refgbl_t;
+    } catch(std::exception& e) {
+        std::cerr<<"Failed to initialize global ref. counter registry :"<<e.what()<<"\n";
+    }
+}
+
+epicsThreadOnceId refgbl_once = EPICS_THREAD_ONCE_INIT;
+
+void refgbl_setup()
+{
+    epicsThreadOnce(&refgbl_once, &refgbl_init, 0);
+    if(!refgbl)
+        throw std::runtime_error("Failed to initialize global ref. counter registry");
+}
+
+} // namespace
+
+namespace epics {
+
+void registerRefCounter(const char *name, const size_t* counter)
+{
+    refgbl_setup();
+    Guard G(refgbl->lock);
+    refgbl->counters[name] = counter;
+}
+
+void unregisterRefCounter(const char *name, const size_t* counter)
+{
+    refgbl_setup();
+    Guard G(refgbl->lock);
+    refgbl_t::counters_t::iterator it(refgbl->counters.find(name));
+    if(it!=refgbl->counters.end() && it->second==counter)
+        refgbl->counters.erase(it);
+}
+
+size_t readRefCounter(const char *name)
+{
+    refgbl_setup();
+    Guard G(refgbl->lock);
+    refgbl_t::counters_t::iterator it(refgbl->counters.find(name));
+    if(it==refgbl->counters.end())
+        return 0;
+#ifdef REFTRACK_USE_ATOMIC
+    return atomic::get(*it->second);
+#else
+    return readref(it->second);
+#endif
+}
+
+const RefSnapshot::Count RefSnapshot::zero;
+
+void RefSnapshot::update()
+{
+    refgbl_t::counters_t counters;
+    {
+        refgbl_setup();
+        Guard G(refgbl->lock);
+        counters = refgbl->counters; // copy
+    }
+
+    counts.clear();
+
+    for(refgbl_t::counters_t::const_iterator it=counters.begin(),
+                                            end=counters.end();
+        it!=end; ++it)
+    {
+#ifdef REFTRACK_USE_ATOMIC
+        size_t cnt = atomic::get(*it->second);
+#else
+        size_t cnt = readref(it->second);
+#endif
+
+        counts[it->first] = Count(cnt, 0);
+    }
+}
+
+RefSnapshot operator-(const RefSnapshot& lhs, const RefSnapshot& rhs)
+{
+    RefSnapshot ret;
+
+    RefSnapshot::cnt_map_t::const_iterator lit = lhs.counts.begin(),
+                                           lend= lhs.counts.end(),
+                                           rit = rhs.counts.begin(),
+                                           rend= rhs.counts.end();
+
+    while(lit!=lend || rit!=rend)
+    {
+        if(lit==lend || (rit!=rend && lit->first > rit->first)) {
+            ret.counts[rit->first] = RefSnapshot::Count(0, -ssize_t(rit->second.current));
+            ++rit;
+
+        } else if(rit==rend || lit->first < rit->first) {
+            ret.counts[lit->first] = RefSnapshot::Count(lit->second.current, lit->second.current);
+            ++lit;
+
+        } else { // !end and lit->first == rit->first
+            ret.counts[lit->first] = RefSnapshot::Count(lit->second.current,
+                                                        ssize_t(lit->second.current) - ssize_t(rit->second.current));
+            ++lit;
+            ++rit;
+        }
+    }
+
+    return ret;
+}
+
+std::ostream& operator<<(std::ostream& strm, const RefSnapshot& snap)
+{
+    for(RefSnapshot::const_iterator it = snap.begin(), end = snap.end(); it!=end; ++it)
+    {
+        if(it->second.delta==0) continue;
+        strm<<it->first<<":\t"<<it->second.current<<" (delta "<<it->second.delta<<")\n";
+    }
+    return strm;
+}
+
+struct RefMonitor::Impl : public epicsThreadRunable
+{
+    RefMonitor& owner;
+    std::auto_ptr<epicsThread> worker;
+    epicsMutex lock;
+    epicsEvent wakeup;
+    RefSnapshot prev;
+    bool done;
+    double period;
+    Impl(RefMonitor* owner) :owner(*owner), done(false), period(10.0) {}
+    virtual ~Impl() {}
+
+    virtual void run()
+    {
+        Guard G(lock);
+        while(!done) {
+            RefSnapshot current, P;
+            P = prev; // copy
+            {
+                UnGuard U(G);
+
+                current.update();
+
+                owner.show(current-P);
+            }
+
+            prev.swap(current);
+
+            {
+                UnGuard U(G);
+                wakeup.wait(period);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+};
+
+RefMonitor::RefMonitor()
+    :impl(new Impl(this))
+{}
+RefMonitor::~RefMonitor()
+{
+    stop();
+    delete impl;
+}
+
+void RefMonitor::start(double period)
+{
+    Guard G(impl->lock);
+    if(impl->worker.get()) return;
+
+    impl->done = false;
+    impl->period = period;
+    impl->worker.reset(new epicsThread(*impl,
+                                       "RefMonitor",
+                                       epicsThreadGetStackSize(epicsThreadStackSmall),
+                                       epicsThreadPriorityMin));
+    impl->worker->start();
+}
+
+void RefMonitor::stop()
+{
+    std::auto_ptr<epicsThread> W;
+    {
+        Guard G(impl->lock);
+        if(!impl->worker.get()) return;
+        W = impl->worker;
+        impl->done = true;
+    }
+
+    impl->wakeup.signal();
+    W->exitWait();
+
+    W.reset();
+}
+
+bool RefMonitor::running() const
+{
+    Guard G(impl->lock);
+    return !!impl->worker.get();
+}
+
+void RefMonitor::current()
+{
+    RefSnapshot current, P;
+    current.update();
+
+    {
+        Guard G(impl->lock);
+        P = impl->prev; // copy
+    }
+
+    show(current-P, true);
+}
+
+void RefMonitor::show(const RefSnapshot &snap, bool complete)
+{
+    epicsTime now(epicsTime::getCurrent());
+    char buf[80];
+    epicsTime::getCurrent().strftime(buf, sizeof(buf), "%a %b %d %Y %H:%M:%S.%f");
+    buf[sizeof(buf)-1] = '\0';
+    std::cerr<<buf<<" : References\n";
+
+    for(RefSnapshot::const_iterator it = snap.begin(), end = snap.end(); it!=end; ++it)
+    {
+        // print if delta!=0 or (complete && current!=0)
+        if(it->second.delta==0 && (!complete || it->second.current==0)) continue;
+        std::cerr<<it->first<<":\t"<<it->second.current<<" (delta "<<it->second.delta<<")\n";
+    }
+}
+
+} // namespace epics
+
+
+char* epicsRefSnapshotCurrent()
+{
+    try {
+        epics::RefSnapshot snap;
+        snap.update();
+        std::ostringstream strm;
+        strm<<snap;
+        const char *str = strm.str().c_str();
+        char *ret = (char*)malloc(strlen(str)+1);
+        if(ret)
+            strcpy(ret, str);
+        return ret;
+    }catch(std::exception& e){
+        return epicsStrDup(e.what());
+    }
+}
diff --git a/testApp/misc/Makefile b/testApp/misc/Makefile
index aca89f1..9679904 100644
--- a/testApp/misc/Makefile
+++ b/testApp/misc/Makefile
@@ -76,3 +76,7 @@ TESTS += testUnitTest
 TESTPROD_HOST += testjson
 testjson_SRCS += testjson.cpp
 TESTS += testjson
+
+TESTPROD_HOST += test_reftrack
+test_reftrack_SRCS += test_reftrack.cpp
+TESTS += test_reftrack
diff --git a/testApp/misc/test_reftrack.cpp b/testApp/misc/test_reftrack.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..098e764
--- /dev/null
+++ b/testApp/misc/test_reftrack.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,102 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright information and license terms for this software can be
+ * found in the file LICENSE that is included with the distribution
+ */
+
+#include <stdexcept>
+
+#include <epicsUnitTest.h>
+#include <testMain.h>
+
+#include <pv/epicsException.h>
+#include <pv/reftrack.h>
+
+namespace {
+
+void testReg()
+{
+    testDiag("testReg()");
+
+    static size_t cnt1 = 1;
+
+    epics::registerRefCounter("cnt1", &cnt1);
+
+    testOk1(epics::readRefCounter("cnt1")==1);
+
+    cnt1 = 2;
+
+    testOk1(epics::readRefCounter("cnt1")==2);
+
+    epics::unregisterRefCounter("cnt1", &cnt1);
+
+    testOk1(epics::readRefCounter("cnt1")==0);
+}
+
+void testSnap()
+{
+    testDiag("testSnap()");
+
+    static size_t cnt1 = 1,
+                  cnt2 = 10;
+
+    epics::registerRefCounter("cnt1", &cnt1);
+    epics::registerRefCounter("cnt2", &cnt2);
+
+    epics::RefSnapshot snap1;
+    snap1.update();
+
+    cnt1 = 2;
+    cnt2 = 11;
+    static size_t cnt3 = 21;
+    epics::registerRefCounter("cnt3", &cnt3);
+
+    epics::RefSnapshot snap2;
+    snap2.update();
+
+    cnt1 = 4;
+    cnt2 = 13;
+    cnt3 = 23;
+    epics::unregisterRefCounter("cnt1", &cnt1);
+
+    epics::RefSnapshot snap3;
+    snap3.update();
+
+    testOk1(snap1.size()>=2);
+    testOk1(snap2.size()>=3);
+    testOk1(snap3.size()>=2);
+
+    epics::RefSnapshot delta12(snap2-snap1);
+    epics::RefSnapshot delta13(snap3-snap1);
+    epics::RefSnapshot delta23(snap3-snap2);
+
+    testOk1(delta12.size()>=3);
+    testOk1(delta13.size()>=3);
+    testOk1(delta23.size()>=3);
+
+    testOk1(delta12["cnt1"]==epics::RefSnapshot::Count(2, 1));
+    testOk1(delta12["cnt2"]==epics::RefSnapshot::Count(11, 1));
+    testOk1(delta12["cnt3"]==epics::RefSnapshot::Count(21, 21));
+
+    testOk1(delta23["cnt1"]==epics::RefSnapshot::Count(0, -2));
+    testOk1(delta23["cnt2"]==epics::RefSnapshot::Count(13, 2));
+    testOk1(delta23["cnt3"]==epics::RefSnapshot::Count(23, 2));
+
+    testOk1(delta13["cnt1"]==epics::RefSnapshot::Count(0, -1));
+    testOk1(delta13["cnt2"]==epics::RefSnapshot::Count(13, 3));
+    testOk1(delta13["cnt3"]==epics::RefSnapshot::Count(23, 23));
+}
+
+} // namespace
+
+MAIN(test_reftrack)
+{
+    testPlan(18);
+    try {
+        testReg();
+        testSnap();
+    }catch(std::exception& e){
+        PRINT_EXCEPTION(e);
+        testAbort("Unexpected exception: %s", e.what());
+    }
+    return testDone();
+}