Pulse Oximeters May Be Inaccurate On People Of Color, FDA Warns newson6.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from newson6.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Pulse oximeters may be inaccurate on people of color, FDA warns By Kate Gibson Doctor argues why pulse oximeters are needed
Pulse oximeters — viewed as a critical in the fight against COVID-19 — may not work as advertised for people of color.
"The devices may be less accurate in people with dark skin pigmentation," the U.S. Food and Drug Administration stated in a safety notice posted on Friday.
The FDA's warning offers a toned-down version of recent and even years-ago research finding racial disparities in the performance of pulse oximeters, which measure oxygen levels. The clamp-style devices attach to a person's finger and track the amount of oxygen in their blood. Low oxygen levels signal a COVID-19 patient might be getting worse.