Pulse oximetry is typically a fairly accurate test. This is especially true when using high-quality equipment found in most medical offices or hospital settings.
It consistently provides results within a 2-percent difference either way of what it truly is.
If your reading was 86 percent, for example, your true oxygen saturation level may be anywhere from 84 to 88 percent. However, the quality of the waveform and assessment of the individual must be considered.
Factors such as movement or temperature can impact the accuracy.
Typically, more than 89 percent of your blood should be carrying oxygen.
This is the oxygen saturation level needed to keep your cells — and your body — healthy. While having an oxygen saturation below this temporarily is not believed to cause damage, repeat or consistent instances of lowered oxygen saturation levels may be damaging.
An oxygen saturation level of 95 percent is considered normal for most healthy individuals. A level of 92 percent indicates potential hypoxemia or deficiency in oxygen reaching tissues in the body.
Where to buy oxygen reader for finger?
Most online stores such as Amazon, Walmart, or stores specialized in medical devices sell this device for a value between 30 to 60 dollars depending on the brand, the most sought after and sold brands are Nonin, Innovo, etc.
The majority of consumer-level oximeters are applied to your finger, so they’re wonderfully noninvasive; you don’t have to worry about needles or blood tests, and you can check your oxygen saturation levels almost anywhere.
Types of pulse oximeter
Types of Devices and Their Principles of Operation
All pulse oximeters provide an estimate of the arterial oxygen saturation, that is the percentage of hemoglobin binding sites occupied by oxygen, which, in turn, is a function of the arterial oxygen pressure/ tension, as defined by the hemoglobin-oxygen dissociation curve.
The principles by which these estimates are derived vary based on the type of monitoring device. The output from these systems is saturation measured by the pulse oximeter (SpO2), where the “p” refers to a pulse oximetry measurement, in contrast to a value measured directly from arterial blood by co-oximetry, which is denoted by SaO2
Pulse oximeter accuracy ratings
Evaluating the Accuracy of Monitoring Devices
The following three variables must be taken into consideration when evaluating the performance of any monitoring device:
- accuracy: or how close the measured value is to the true value;
- precision: or how close repeated measures of the value are to each other; and
- bias: the difference between the average of the measurements made by a monitor and the true value. The ideal monitoring system will have high accuracy and precision but minimal bias.
Pulse Oximeters: Answering Your Frequently Asked Questions
What is a normal Pulse Oximeter reading?
What are normal levels, and when should I worry? Normal SpO2 is usually at least 95%. Some patients with chronic lung disease or sleep apnea can have normal levels of around 90%. …
How to Check Oxygen Level at Home?
When you are at home and don’t have all of the electronic devices and laboratory access typically found in a hospital, there are ways to check your oxygen level a portable pulse oximeter.
Fingertip Pulse Oximeters
- What is the best pulse oximeter?
- What is a normal oxygen saturation level?
- Are any oximeters made in the USA?
- Pulse oximeters FDA approved and more…