PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Arlene J. Hudson
AU  - John Benjamin
AU  - Timothy Jardeleza
AU  - Curt Bergstrom
AU  - William Cronin
AU  - Mario Mendoza
AU  - Lex Schultheis
TI  - Clinical Interpretation of Peripheral Pulse Oximeters Labeled “Not for Medical Use”
AID  - 10.1370/afm.2317
DP  - 2018 Nov 01
TA  - The Annals of Family Medicine
PG  - 552--554
VI  - 16
IP  - 6
4099  - http://www.annfammed.org/content/16/6/552.short
4100  - http://www.annfammed.org/content/16/6/552.full
SO  - Ann Fam Med2018 Nov 01; 16
AB  - The purpose of our study was to clarify limitations of off-label use for low cost nonmedical use (NMU) pulse oximeters by primary care providers. These devices are widely marketed over the Internet and in drugstores but are not intended for medical use or reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Our study compared oxygen saturation (SpO2) in patients from 1 medical use (MU) pulse oximeter to 8 NMU pulse oximeters. Measured arterial oxygenation (SaO2) was compared with SpO2 when available. In patients who were normoxic (SpO2 ≥90%), all oximeters exhibited similar readings. This finding suggests that NMU pulse oximeters may be able to rule out hypoxemia in clinical settings.