Fingertip monitors known as pulse oximeters that can be used at home to detect low blood oxygen levels give higher readings for patients with darker than lighter skin tones, according to the largest study on this topic.
This means that low blood oxygen levels may be missed in patients with darker skin tones, potentially delaying care, while patients with lighter skin tones may get unnecessary treatment.
Pulse oximeters use light to measure the amount of oxygen in the blood (SpO2). For most people, a normal pulse oximeter reading is between 95% and 100%, with readings below 90-92% generally considered low and requiring medical attention.
They are known to be affected by several factors, including skin tone, as pigment in darker skin can absorb more light, making the device "think" there's more oxygen than there is.
But while research published in 2024 indicated that pulse can significantly overestimate oxygen saturation readings, studies have been unable to draw any firm conclusions about the impact of skin tone on diagnostic accuracy.
To address this, researchers - led by
[STAFFMEMBER]
"> Professor Daniel Martin from the University of Plymouth - set out to test the measurement and diagnostic accuracy of five fingertip pulse oximeters provided by the NHS for use at home in the NHS England COVID oximetry @home scheme.
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