Oxygen saturations are sometimes referred to as the ‘fifth vital sign’, and that feels about where they should be - after the 4 traditional vital signs (temperature, pulse, respiratory rate and BP/capillary refill time) and to be used in addition to, not instead of, these four parameters; and importantly they should be used as part of a wider holistic assessment. Measuring oxygen sats in children with bronchiolitis may be a useful adjunct to our clinical assessment, as long as we use them as part of a wider holistic assessment and bear in mind the caveats and pitfalls above.

In a clinical setting, pulse ox probes tend to differ, according to board-certified internal medicine specialist Spencer Kroll, MD, PhD.This is because Covid-19 can cause your blood oxygen levels to drop (in some cases, to dangerous levels) but sometimes people don't feel that unwell so aren't aware of it. While ease of use received the lowest score, of 3.5, of all products on our list, our tester ultimately thought the pros outweighed the cons and found its accuracy unparalleled—making it our top option. If you're thinking about buying a pulse oximeter, it's worth discussing with your GP first if this is right for you. At-home pulse oximetry is no substitute for medical advice and shouldn't be relied upon without clinical input. Plus, if you are likely to be more at risk, the NHS may well provide you with one anyway.

Our tests uncovered two Best Buys which impressed us with their accuracy, speed and comfort, but we also came across some that were slower to produce readings, less accurate or not so comfortable to use (though all models tested met the required minimum accuracy standards). Chaim explains to Healthline that most at-home pulse oximeters provide accurate readings to users. But he warns that the accuracy of pulse oximetry readings can be influenced by a variety of factors. What affects pulse oximeter readings?MacIntyre NR. Tissue hypoxia: implications for the respiratory clinician. Respir Care. 2014;59(10):1590-1596. Collins J-A, Rudenski A, Gibson J, Howard L, O’Driscoll R. Relating oxygen partial pressure, saturation and content: the haemoglobin-oxygen dissociation curve. Breathe (Sheff). 2015;11(3):194-201. For home use, the most common type is the fingertip pulse oximeter. Follow manufacturer guidelines for proper use because not all models are the same, but typically, you sit still, clip the small device to your fingertip and wait for your reading to appear in less than a minute. Some models are meant for adult use only while others can be used on children. The Verywell Health team spent eight hours testing 14 pulse oximeters at The Verywell Testing Lab to see how they performed amongst a few key attributes, including setup, fit, ease of use, data display, and overall value. We chose these attributes because we believe that they are most aligned with the priorities of someone shopping for a pulse oximeter. Our testers, comprised of a Verywell Healtheditor and a product assistant, conducted tests under the supervision of Huma Sheikh, MD, a neurologist at Mount Sinai in New York City, via Zoom call. We also consulted with other physicians who offered their insights on what factors to consider with choosing pulse oximeters. These experts included: A digital thermometer is a fast and accurate way to measure your temperature. Readings can be taken from under the tongue or under the armpit. To use a digital thermometer: