diff --git a/BioLogic.py b/BioLogic.py
index 42ab601..87a245e 100644
--- a/BioLogic.py
+++ b/BioLogic.py
@@ -131,11 +131,29 @@ VMPmodule_hdr = np.dtype([('shortname', 'S10'),
 
 def VMPdata_dtype_from_colIDs(colIDs):
     dtype_dict = OrderedDict()
+    flags_dict = OrderedDict()
+    flags2_dict = OrderedDict()
     for colID in colIDs:
         if colID in (1, 2, 3, 21, 31, 65):
             dtype_dict['flags'] = 'u1'
+            if colID == 1:
+                flags_dict['mode'] = (np.uint8(0x03), np.uint8)
+            elif colID == 2:
+                flags_dict['ox/red'] = (np.uint8(0x04), np.bool_)
+            elif colID == 3:
+                flags_dict['error'] = (np.uint8(0x08), np.bool_)
+            elif colID == 21:
+                flags_dict['control changes'] = (np.uint8(0x10), np.bool_)
+            elif colID == 31:
+                flags_dict['Ns changes'] = (np.uint8(0x20), np.bool_)
+            elif colID == 65:
+                flags_dict['counter inc.'] = (np.uint8(0x80), np.bool_)
+            else:
+                raise NotImplementedError("flag %d not implemented" % colID)
         elif colID in (131,):
             dtype_dict['flags2'] = '<u2'
+            if colID == 131:
+                flags2_dict['??'] = (np.uint16(0x0001), np.bool_)
         elif colID == 4:
             dtype_dict['time/s'] = '<f8'
         elif colID == 5:
@@ -159,7 +177,7 @@ def VMPdata_dtype_from_colIDs(colIDs):
             dtype_dict['(Q-Qo)/C'] = '<f4'
         else:
             raise NotImplementedError("column type %d not implemented" % colID)
-    return np.dtype(list(dtype_dict.items()))
+    return np.dtype(list(dtype_dict.items())), flags_dict, flags2_dict
 
 
 def read_VMP_modules(fileobj, read_module_data=True):
@@ -253,7 +271,7 @@ class MPRfile:
         else:
             assert(not any(remaining_headers))
 
-        self.dtype = VMPdata_dtype_from_colIDs(column_types)
+        self.dtype, self.flags_dict, self.flags2_dict = VMPdata_dtype_from_colIDs(column_types)
         self.data = np.fromstring(main_data, dtype=self.dtype)
         assert(self.data.shape[0] == n_data_points)
 
@@ -291,3 +309,13 @@ class MPRfile:
                 Start date: %s
                 End date: %s
                 Timestamp: %s""" % (self.startdate, self.enddate, self.timestamp))
+
+    def get_flag(self, flagname):
+        if flagname in self.flags_dict:
+            mask, dtype = self.flags_dict[flagname]
+            return np.array(self.data['flags'] & mask, dtype=dtype)
+        elif flagname in self.flags2_dict:
+            mask, dtype = self.flags2_dict[flagname]
+            return np.array(self.data['flags2'] & mask, dtype=dtype)
+        else:
+            raise AttributeError("Flag '%s' not present" % flagname)
diff --git a/tests/test_BioLogic.py b/tests/test_BioLogic.py
index 51e2f94..65c2ca5 100644
--- a/tests/test_BioLogic.py
+++ b/tests/test_BioLogic.py
@@ -111,19 +111,14 @@ def assert_MPR_matches_MPT(mpr, mpt, comments):
         if fieldname in mpr.dtype.fields:
             assert_array_equal(mpr.data[fieldname], mpt[fieldname])
 
-    assert_array_equal(mpr.data["flags"] & 0x03, mpt["mode"])
-    assert_array_equal(np.array(mpr.data["flags"] & 0x04, dtype=np.bool_),
-                       mpt["ox/red"])
-    assert_array_equal(np.array(mpr.data["flags"] & 0x08, dtype=np.bool_),
-                       mpt["error"])
-    assert_array_equal(np.array(mpr.data["flags"] & 0x10, dtype=np.bool_),
-                       mpt["control changes"])
-    if "Ns changes" in mpt.dtype.fields:                    
-        assert_array_equal(np.array(mpr.data["flags"] & 0x20, dtype=np.bool_),
-                           mpt["Ns changes"])
-    ## Nothing uses the 0x40 bit of the flags
-    assert_array_equal(np.array(mpr.data["flags"] & 0x80, dtype=np.bool_),
-                       mpt["counter inc."])
+    assert_array_equal(mpr.get_flag("mode"), mpt["mode"])
+    assert_array_equal(mpr.get_flag("ox/red"), mpt["ox/red"])
+    assert_array_equal(mpr.get_flag("error"), mpt["error"])
+    assert_array_equal(mpr.get_flag("control changes"), mpt["control changes"])
+    if "Ns changes" in mpt.dtype.fields:
+        assert_array_equal(mpr.get_flag("Ns changes"), mpt["Ns changes"])
+    ## Nothing uses the 0x40 bit of the flags    
+    assert_array_equal(mpr.get_flag("counter inc."), mpt["counter inc."])
 
     assert_array_almost_equal(mpr.data["time/s"],
                               mpt["time/s"],
@@ -147,7 +142,6 @@ def assert_MPR_matches_MPT(mpr, mpt, comments):
         eq_(timestamp_from_comments(comments), mpr.timestamp)
     except AttributeError:
         pass
-    
 
 
 def test_MPR1_matches_MPT1():