What is SpO2?
- Normal SpO2 values vary between 90 and 100%. Good blood oxygenation is necessary to supply the energy your muscles need in order to function, which increases during a sports activity. If your SpO2 value is below 90%, that could be a sign of poor blood oxygenation, also called hypoxia.
- If all of your haemoglobin have four oxygen molecules bound to them, your blood would be 'saturated' with oxygen and you would have an SpO2 of 100%. Most people don’t have oxygen saturations of 100% so a range of 95-99% is considered normal. Anything below 95% is an indicator of hypoxia – a lack of oxygen perfusing the tissues.
SpO2, also known as oxygen saturation, is a measure of the amount of oxygen-carrying hemoglobin in the blood relative to the amount of hemoglobin not carrying oxygen. The body needs there to be a certain level of oxygen in the blood or it will not function as efficiently. In fact, very low levels of SpO2 can result in very serious symptoms. This condition is known as hypoxemia. There is a visible effect on the skin, known as cyanosis due to the blue (cyan) tint it takes on. Hypoxemia (low levels of oxygen in the blood) can turn into hypoxia (low levels of oxygen in the tissue). This progression and the difference between the two conditions is important to understand.
How the Body Maintains Normal SpO2 levels
It is vital to maintain normal oxygen saturation levels in order to prevent hypoxia. Thankfully, the body usually does this by itself. The most important way that the body maintains healthy SpO2 levels is through breathing. The lungs take oxygen that has been inhaled and binds it to hemoglobin that then travels throughout the body with the payload of oxygen. The oxygen needs of the body increase during times of high physiological stress (e.g., lifting weights or running) and at higher altitudes. The body is usually able to adapt to these increases, provided that they are not too extreme.
Measuring SpO2
The Communicative Ability of Universiti Teknologi MARA Sarawak's Graduates. ERIC Educational Resources Information Center. Hassan, Sharifah Zakiah Wan; Hakim, Simon Faizal; Rahim.
There are many ways that the blood can be tested to ensure it contains normal oxygen levels. The most common way is to use a pulse oximeter to measure the SpO2 levels in the blood. Pulse oximeters are relatively easy to use, and are common in health care facilities and at home. They are very accurate despite their low price point.
To use a pulse oximeter, simply place it on your finger. A percentage will be displayed on the screen. This percentage should be between 94 percent and 100 percent, which indicates a healthy level of hemoglobin carrying oxygen through the blood. If it is less than 90 percent, you should see a doctor. Add spotify to mac dock.
The ABCs of Pulse Oximetry
CLINICAL MINUTE: O2 Saturation & the POC
The Value of Home Respiratory Care
The Future of Telehealth in Respiratory Care
How Pulse Oximeters Measure Oxygen in the Blood
Pulse oximeters have been in use for many years. However, they were mostly used by health care facilities until recently. Now that they have become relatively common in the home, many people are wondering how they work.
Pulse oximeters function by using light sensors to record how much blood is carrying oxygen and how much blood is not. Oxygen-saturated hemoglobin appears to be a brighter red to the naked eye than non-oxygen saturated hemoglobin, and this phenomenon allows the highly sensitive sensors of the pulse oximeter to detect minute variations in the blood and translate that into a reading.
Symptoms of Hypoxemia
There are several common symptoms of hypoxemia. The number and severity of these symptoms depend on how low the SpO2 levels are. Moderate hypoxemia results in fatigue, light-headedness, numbness and tingling of the extremities and nausea. Beyond this point, hypoxemia usually becomes hypoxia.
Symptoms of Hypoxia
Normal Spo2 Levels In Adults
A normal SpO2 level is vital to maintaining the health of all tissue in the body. As previously mentioned, hypoxemia is low oxygen saturation in the blood. Hypoxemia is directly related to hypoxia, which is low oxygen saturation in the body’s tissue. Hypoxemia often causes hypoxia, if the oxygen levels are quite low, and remain so. Cyanosis is a good indicator of hypoxemia becoming hypoxia. However, it is not perfectly reliable. For example, someone with a darker complexion will not present with obvious cyanosis. Cyanosis also often fails to increase in visibility as the hypoxia becomes more severe. Other symptoms of hypoxia, however, do become more severe. Severe hypoxia causes twitches, disorientation, hallucinations, pallor, irregular heartbeat and eventually death. Hypoxia often has a snowball effect, in that once the process is started, it speeds up and the condition rapidly becomes more severe. A good rule of thumb is to get help as soon as your skin starts taking on a blue tinge.
Editor's Note: This article was updated Feb. 8, 2021 to reflect new information.
Finger Pulse Oximeter Parameters - OctiveTech 300-series
1. Overview
This document contains an overview of suggested operating parameters for the OctiveTech series of Finger Pulse Oximeters. This document is intended to be a guide only, and should not be used as a substitute for clinical diagnosis performed by a licensed practitioner.
2. Extended Specifications
| Spo2 Measurements | Pulse Rate |
| Range: 0% - 100% Resolution: 1% | 30-254 BPM Resolution: ±1bpm |
| Accuracy: 80% - 99%, ±2% | Accuracy: ±2bpm or ±2% |
| Accuracy: 70% - 79%, ±3% | Accuracy: 0% - 69%, unspecified |
3. Measurement Interpretation
This section contains a guideline on various levels of blood oxygen and heart rate that are within tolerable ranges.
3.1 Oxygen Saturation
| Measurement | Critical | Notes |
| Spo2 > 95% | N | Normal healthy individual |
| Spo2 91% - 95% | N | Clinically acceptable, but low. Patient may be a smoker, or be unhealthy. |
| Spo2 70% - 90% | Y | Hypoxemia. Unhealthy and unsafe level. |
| Spo2 < 70% | Y | Extreme lack of oxygen, ischemic diseases may occur. The OctiveTech 300-series of Oximeters is not calibrated to detect readings lower than 70%. |
3.2 Resting Pulse Rate
| Measurement | Critical | Notes |
| PR <40 BPM | Y | Below healthy resting heart rates. OctiveTech 300-series does not detect pulse rates lower than 30BMP. |
| PR 40-60 BPM | Y/N | Resting heart rate for sleeping. |
| PR 60-100 BPM | N | Healthy adult resting heartrate. |
| PR 100 BPM – 220 BPM | Y | Acceptable if measured during exercise. Not acceptable if resting heartrate. |
| PR > 220 BPM | Y | Abnormally high heart rate. The OctiveTech 300-series does not detect heart rates > 254 BPM. |
What are the different types of pulse oximeters?
There are 3 mains types of pulse oximeters—fingertip pulse oximeters, pediatric pulse oximeters, and handheld pulse oximeters.
98% Sp02
Fingertip pulse oximeters
Most commonly used in patient’s homes, fingertip pulse oximeters work by measuring the blood oxygen saturation levels using the finger. Although not as common, they can also be implemented using the earlobe. Fingertip pulse oximeters are generally transportable, making them extremely convenient when measuring blood oxygen saturation levels.
Pediatric pulse oximeters
Also known as a fetal pulse oximeter, pediatric pulse oximeters are designed to fit the smaller fingers of young children and infants. Often times it can be challenging to get a young child or baby to comply with normal pulse oximetry protocol. As a result, pediatric pulse oximeters have a probe that can attach to the head, allowing for an easier measurement of blood saturation levels.
Handheld pulse oximeters
Primarily used by medical institutes and hospitals, handheld pulse oximeters are more complex and tend to give more accurate readings than fingertip pulse oximeters and pediatric pulse oximeters. Handheld pulse oximeters are used to measure the blood saturation levels of all age groups, ranging from neonates to adults, by attaching the probe to the finger—and in most cases, the index finger.
Normal Spo2 For Elderly
Disclaimer:
The information on this website aims to provide customers with relevant knowledge regarding our products. Under no circumstances should the information be used for therapeutic purposes. Customers must consult their doctors for the correct use of these information and products. ClinicalGuard.com is not responsible for any losses or accidents caused by the use of information on this website.