All monitors have an electronic result display. There are at least two readings on a pulse oximeter—oxygen saturation percentage, abbreviated as SpO2, and pulse rate. The resting heart rate for a typical adult ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute (often lower for athletes)—although a healthy resting heart rate is typically well below 90 beats per minute. Teo J. Early detection of silent hypoxia in covid-19 pneumonia using smartphone pulse oximetry. J Med Syst. 2020;44(8):134 12.

MacIntyre NR. Tissue hypoxia: implications for the respiratory clinician. Respir Care. 2014;59(10):1590-1596. The device is intended for self-monitoring by patients suffering from chronic diseases of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. The brand says the device is designed to deliver accurate measurements when used as directed, even if you have a darker skin tone. However, it’s not FDA-approved.

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While specific products vary by the hospital and its requirements, many hospitals use pulse oximeters created by the following medical manufacturers: Nonin, Philips, Masimo, Innovo, SantaMedical, or Veridian. According to a 2016 study, some pulse oximeters that are not approved by the FDA can produce large errors (an average of 6.3 percent lower, or 4.3 percent higher, than the actual result) with blood oxygen saturation measurements. What can affect pulse oximetry readings?

Khan Y, Han D, Pierre A, et al. A flexible organic reflectance oximeter array. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2018;115(47):E11015-E11024. During physical exertion, the muscles burn oxygen and the level of saturation of arterial blood with oxygen falls.Finger pulse oximeters can then measure how much light comes through your finger to estimate how many of your red blood cells are carrying oxygen. This type of reading is called oxygen saturation, or SpO2, and the results display as a percentage.