Pulse Oximeters, reccomended units and how to use.

Forums › Health and fitness › Pulse Oximeters, reccomended units and how to use.

Daynger

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#290479 14-Nov-2021 18:56

Hi GZ,

As it looks like most of us are going to have to fend for ourselves once NZ really lets covid rip, i thought it might pay to have my own pulse oximeter.

This thread is for recommendations of what to buy, where to buy, what to avoid and how to use them.

So please, share any information you have so that we can survive the hard time that is coming.

Thanks.

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#2812767 14-Nov-2021 19:02

My Samsung S10 mobile health app does that using the camera function

that would be an ecumenical matter

Batman

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#2812768 14-Nov-2021 19:07

how to use, assuming accurate/reliable -

1. put it on a well person, it should say 95-100%.

2. if you have covid and it says 95-100% and you don't otherwise feel anything untoward go back to bed.

3. if you have covid and it says anything that is not 90-100% go to hospital

4. if you have dark skin - number 2 may or may not apply

Note. in-betweens (of these black and whites of 2, 3) not covered

mattwnz

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#2812772 14-Nov-2021 19:15

Hopefully the government and MOH be advising the public on this. One would hope they have been ordering enough in their planning over the last 18 months?

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#2812773 14-Nov-2021 19:20

mattwnz:

Hopefully the government and MOH be advising the public on this. One would hope they have been ordering enough in their planning over the last 18 months?

i wouldn't count on anything governement related. as i said i bought 2 of these already when we went into level 4.1

SirHumphreyAppleby

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#2812776 14-Nov-2021 19:44

I have a cheap unit from China and it seems to work fine. It produced similar results when compared to a hospital supplied unit when I tested it. Not saying it's 100% accurate, but the way they work isn't complicated. For anyone interested, Technology Connections did a video on how they work.

Scott3

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#2812777 14-Nov-2021 19:49

I ordered myself a couple from aliexpress as part of the 11-11 sale

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003151931694.html

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32255302315.html

One is a child unit, and the other an adult one - hoping with two that I can use them to verify the results are consistent.

Both units were around $17 - decided to stay away from the $5 ones. Of course shipping can be as long as 40 days, so I won't have them for a while.

If we actually get covid-19 I would look to get something better locally. But I figured having these at home would be useful. - I would have used it when my wife and child had RSV this winter too.

psychrn

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#2812828 14-Nov-2021 20:09

here are a couple of useful links from a reputable Govt website

Cell phone Camera use in Pulse Oximetry readings. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5772567/

Samsung Cellphone app efficacy in measuring Pulse Oximetry. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7899474

As a practising RN I was concerned at some recent deaths of folk self-isolating at home from Supposed Covid 19. The Govt has stated that meters are being given to people self isolating. That is all well and good but how is the monitoring occurring. You could quickly deteriorate and how often is the follow up occurring. Thats I suppose another issue,.

Stand alone Pulse oximeters are easy to use. Place the sensors on the finger( Middle or index ) as described on the sensor - there will be a symbol of the correct position. Then just press the button.

Anything above 95% is normal. Anything below seek medical advice. Especially if the percentage is decreasing. Increase in breathing difficulty be the most obvious sign.

Personally I have a Huawei GT 2 pro smartwatch with accurate O2 readings

Hope this helps

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Stu

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#2812829 14-Nov-2021 20:11

sarg:
My Samsung S10 mobile health app does that using the camera function

Just a note that I don't trust my phone. My S10+ up against a doctor's gizmo reads too low. The phone said 91 and 93 (two checks), when the real deal said 99. I've even had the phone give a reading of 90. I wasn't ill. Maybe that's why the newer phones don't seem to have it? (At least, I don't believe the wife's S21 or daughter's S20 FE have the oxygen sensor)

Perhaps worth comparing yours to an actual pulse oximeter.

People often mistake me for an adult because of my age.

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alasta

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#2812832 14-Nov-2021 20:44

I didn't know that phones had this feature, but it is quite common on wearables. If you want to get an idea of whether you can trust the pulse oximetry on your particular wearable device then I suggest you take a look at the product tests on the YouTube channel called The Quantified Scientist.

timmmay

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#2812888 14-Nov-2021 21:26

I was looking at these a couple of months ago, but couldn't decide between the cheap $20 ones and the $100 ones so didn't get anything. Suggestions would be good.

robjg63

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#2812902 14-Nov-2021 22:13

I bought one of these for about $42 (inc courier). In stock ex Auckland - arrived in about 3 days.

https://www.emax.co.nz/Oxygen-Oximeter-Finger-Pulse-Rate-with-Batteries-7931.html

Said my o2 was 98 and my wifes 99.

Easy to use. Dont know how accurate. Just pop your finger in and wait a second or two.

Shows pulse rate as well - checked that and was accurate.

Seemed sensible to have one at home these days.

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jonathan18

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#2812904 14-Nov-2021 22:25

Stu: Just a note that I don't trust my phone. My S10+ up against a doctor's gizmo reads too low. The phone said 91 and 93 (two checks), when the real deal said 99. I've even had the phone give a reading of 90. I wasn't ill. Maybe that's why the newer phones don't seem to have it? (At least, I don't believe the wife's S21 or daughter's S20 FE have the oxygen sensor)

Perhaps worth comparing yours to an actual pulse oximeter.

Huh! Owned an S10+ for two years and had no idea it had this built in. Just as well as I’m sure it wouldn’t help with hypochondria - I just got a reading of 89!

psychrn

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#2812962 15-Nov-2021 07:25

jonathan18:
Stu: Just a note that I don't trust my phone. My S10+ up against a doctor's gizmo reads too low. The phone said 91 and 93 (two checks), when the real deal said 99. I've even had the phone give a reading of 90. I wasn't ill. Maybe that's why the newer phones don't seem to have it? (At least, I don't believe the wife's S21 or daughter's S20 FE have the oxygen sensor)

Perhaps worth comparing yours to an actual pulse oximeter.

Huh! Owned an S10+ for two years and had no idea it had this built in. Just as well as I’m sure it wouldn’t help with hypochondria - I just got a reading of 89!

89 is quite low for a healthy individual. I would ? its accuracy

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robjg63

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#2812998 15-Nov-2021 08:46

Actually- there is quite a good article here that explains why phones etc don't do a very good job of o2 readings:

https://www.theverge.com/2020/4/23/21232488/blood-oxygen-apps-iphone-samsung-unreliable-fitbit-garmin-oximeter

They just dont have the right hardware....

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Handsomedan

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#2813011 15-Nov-2021 09:42

Even the much-touted Apple Watch is questionable in the real-world.

A study with really specific parameters showed that it can be deemed "useful", but isn't as accurate as a medical device.

https://9to5mac.com/2021/09/25/study-apple-watch-series-6-oximeter-is-reliable-for-patients-with-lung-disease/

A new study published on Scientific Report, an online multidisciplinary, open-access journal from the publishers of Nature, shows that the Apple Watch Series 6 “is a reliable way to obtain heart rate and oxygen saturation (SpO2) in patients with lung diseases under controlled conditions.”

The study from the University of São Paulo, one of Brazil’s more prestigious education institutions and was conducted with 100 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and interstitial lung disease from an outpatient pneumology clinic. It collected SpO2 and heart rate data with Apple Watch Series 6 and compared them to two commercial pulse oximeters.

The study observed “strong positive correlations between the Apple Watch device and commercial oximeters. It notes that “there was no statistical difference in the evaluation of skin color, wrist circumference, presence of wrist hair, and enamel nail for SpO2 and hear rate measurements in Apple Watch or commercial oximeter devices.”

Overall, the study says that “despite a tendency to present higher values when compared to conventional oximetry devices, the Apple Watch device was accurate and similar” although it’s important to note that results were made “under controlled conditions.”

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