How to Check If Your Device Is Working
2022-07-19
Oximeter readings are not exact. Your actual blood saturation level may be 2% to 4% higher or lower than what the oximeter reads.4 As a result, physicians like Parsons urge patients to track several oximeter readings in order to see a trend and not just rely on a single reading.
The American Thoracic Society (ATS) recommends using the heart rate reading that is included on the oximeter to check the device’s accuracy as well. Count your pulse for one minute and compare that to the number you see on the device for heart rate. “If they are the same, you are getting a good signal,” the ATS said.
According to the ATS, the accuracy of your home pulse oximeter can drop if:
Your hands are cold
You are not holding still
You are wearing nail polish (especially black, blue, or green)
You are wearing artificial nails
You are a smoker. Smoking increases carbon monoxide levels in your blood, and the oximeter cannot tell the difference between carbon monoxide and oxygen.
If you get an oxygen saturating reading below 95% and have access to someone at home without COVID symptoms, ask them to use the oximeter to see if they get a normal reading.
Ultimately, experts advise simply treating a pulse oximeter as one more tool in your COVID-19 toolbox.
“People who use the devices if they contract COVID-19 should use the readings as just one measure of illness, since we have other indicators that let us know you could be progressing to severe disease,” Parsons said. Troubling breathing, persistent chest pain, new confusion, trouble staying awake, or blue/gray skin and lips are other indictors you should seek emergency medical care.
The American Thoracic Society (ATS) recommends using the heart rate reading that is included on the oximeter to check the device’s accuracy as well. Count your pulse for one minute and compare that to the number you see on the device for heart rate. “If they are the same, you are getting a good signal,” the ATS said.
According to the ATS, the accuracy of your home pulse oximeter can drop if:
Your hands are cold
You are not holding still
You are wearing nail polish (especially black, blue, or green)
You are wearing artificial nails
You are a smoker. Smoking increases carbon monoxide levels in your blood, and the oximeter cannot tell the difference between carbon monoxide and oxygen.
If you get an oxygen saturating reading below 95% and have access to someone at home without COVID symptoms, ask them to use the oximeter to see if they get a normal reading.
Ultimately, experts advise simply treating a pulse oximeter as one more tool in your COVID-19 toolbox.
“People who use the devices if they contract COVID-19 should use the readings as just one measure of illness, since we have other indicators that let us know you could be progressing to severe disease,” Parsons said. Troubling breathing, persistent chest pain, new confusion, trouble staying awake, or blue/gray skin and lips are other indictors you should seek emergency medical care.
What Is Pulse Oximetry?
What is the PI value of the monitor
Related Article
Can asthma go away? Learn about asthma remission, genetic factors, symptoms, asthma cough, and the warning signs of life-threatening status asthmaticus.
Can Asthma Go Away Completely?
Explore tHIS ASEAN 2026, Southeast Asia’s leading healthcare exhibition connecting global medical technology providers with regional distributors, hospitals, and healthcare professionals. Discover ASEAN healthcare market growth, medical device opportunities, patient monitoring systems, pulse oximeters, AI healthcare, remote patient monitoring, and emerging trends shaping the future of healthcare across Southeast Asia.
tHIS ASEAN 2026: Southeast Asia Healthcare Exhibition and Medical Device Opportunities
Recent Ebola outbreaks in Africa have highlighted ongoing challenges in infectious disease control and healthcare preparedness.
Ebola Outbreaks in Africa: Clinical Challenges, Supportive Care, and the Role of Patient Monitoring
An article to discover how AI-driven semiconductor demand is increasing patient monitor manufacturing costs. Learn how supply chain pressures, component shortages, and regulatory requirements are reshaping medical device pricing.
Why Is AI Making Medical Devices More Expensive? A Patient Monitor Case Study