Finger Pulse Oximeter - CVS Pharmacy (2024)

FAQs

What is a normal reading on a fingertip pulse oximeter? ›

What do certain pulse oximeter readings mean? A resting oxygen saturation level between 95% and 100% is regarded as normal for a healthy person at sea level. At higher elevations, oxygen saturation levels may be slightly lower.

The ring finger or even the thumb can serve as suitable alternatives for obtaining pulse oximeter readings. The key is to select a finger with good blood circulation and a fingertip size that fits properly into the pulse oximeter device.

In clinical scenarios, such as critical illness, factors such as motion artifact and vasoconstriction are likely to play a significant role and further degrade the accuracy of low-cost pulse oximeters, perhaps to a greater degree than more expensive units.

If you're using an oximeter at home and your oxygen saturation level is 92% or lower, call your healthcare provider. If it's at 88% or lower, get to the nearest emergency room as soon as possible.

Your oxygen meter shows two numbers. Your oxygen level is labeled SpO2. The other number is your heart rate. For most people, a normal oxygen level is 95% or higher and a normal heart rate is generally below 100.

The reading takes time to steady. Keep the pulse oximeter in place for at least a minute, or longer if the reading keeps changing. Record the highest result once the reading has not changed for five seconds. Be careful to identify which reading is your heart rate and which is your oxygen level.

An SpO2 level of 92 percent is considered the lowest clinically acceptable level by established norms of clinical practice at any age, except in cases of chronic lung disease, where it is 88 percent. Death can occur due to hypoxemia at any level less than 88 percent.

Pulse oximeters are most accurate when blood oxygen saturation is between 90% and 100%. Accuracy decreases when blood oxygen saturation is between 80% and 90%, and the devices are least accurate when saturation is below 80%. Keep in mind that readings may be off by a few percentage points.

An ideal blood oxygen level is between 95% and 99%. An ideal heart rate is between 50 and 90 beats per minute (bpm). You will need to alert your doctor or 111 if it drops below 95% and your heart rate goes above 100.

Your results may vary depending on the type of test used to measure your blood oxygen levels. A pulse oximeter reading indicates what percentage of your blood is saturated, known as the SpO2 level. A typical, healthy reading is 95–100% . If your SpO2 level is less than 92%, a doctor may recommend you get an ABG.

Can I return a pulse oximeter to CVS? ›

All returns or exchanges are subject to a third- party verification process. Most unopened items in new condition purchased from a CVS Pharmacy® store or on CVS.com® can be returned to any CVS Pharmacy store within 60 days of purchase for exchange or refund subject to the restrictions and requirements below.

Shortness of breath does not always indicate that you are hypoxic. In other words, your level of dyspnea, or air hunger, does not always correlate with your oxygen saturation. This means that you can be short of breath, even extremely short of breath, even in the presence of normal oxygen saturation.

If you have poor circulation, dark skin pigmentation, thick skin, currently use tobacco, your skin temperature is cool, or you are wearing dark fingernail polish, long, artificial nails or if your fingers are not clean, the pulse oximeter may give inaccurate or inconsistent readings.

It can peak and rise during a run or exercise, reducing and staying low due to certain cardiovascular complications. However, the standard studies suggest that the pr bpm normal range in oximeter in healthy adults is between 60-100 beats per minute.