The FDA is warning patients and health care providers about pulse oximeters.
In Pulse Oximeter Accuracy and Limitations: FDA Safety Communication - FDA.gov:
"The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused an increase in the use of pulse oximeters, and a recent report suggests that the devices may be less accurate in people with dark skin pigmentation. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is informing patients and health care providers that although pulse oximetry is useful for estimating blood oxygen levels, pulse oximeters have limitations and a risk of inaccuracy under certain circumstances that should be considered. Patients with conditions such as COVID-19 who monitor their condition at home should pay attention to all signs and symptoms of their condition and communicate any concerns to their health care provider."
In FDA In Brief: FDA warns about limitations and accuracy of pulse oximeters - FDA.gov:
"The FDA has issued a safety communication today to inform the public and health care providers of the limitations of these devices and to encourage individuals to pay close attention to all of their health symptoms, particularly if they are experiencing signs of low oxygen saturation levels, such as shortness of breath or bluish coloring of the face, lips, or nails. Patients should contact their health care provider with any concerns about increasing or worsening symptoms.
While pulse oximeters may be useful for estimating blood oxygen levels, these devices have limitations that can result in inaccurate readings. Patients with conditions such as COVID-19 should not rely solely on pulse oximeter measurements to monitor their health at home as they are not a substitute for a medical diagnosis by a health care provider."
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