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10 Best Oximeters & How To Use Them

Pulse oximeters are medical devices that help to monitor and track the oxygen levels in your blood. Knowing whether your body is receiving sufficient oxygen is crucial, as oxygen deprivation can be deadly within a mere couple of minutes.

If you or anyone in your family is someone who requires oxygen therapy or has some form of persistent lung or heart problems, it’s important to have a pulse oximeter at home.

Read our helpful guide on pulse oximeters with tips on how to pick the right device for your specific needs, what types are available, how to take a reading and understand it, what a healthy reading should look like, as well as 10 of the best oximeters for home or professional use.

What Is a Pulse Oximeter?

A pulse oximeter is a medical instrument used for measuring your pulse rate as well as the oxygen levels in your blood. Within seconds, a pulse oximeter can display digital measurements for both. Pulse oximeters can help to assess the degree to which your lungs are pumping oxygen into your bloodstream and test whether your blood oxygen saturation levels, shown in percentages (%), are healthy.

All in all, it’s a fast, easy and painless way to determine how effectively your body is functioning to transport oxygen from your lungs to your heart and the ends of your limbs. Although typically used in clinics and hospitals, pulse oximeters today can be purchased in-store or online for at-home use too.

How Does a Pulse Oximeter Work?

A pulse oximeter employs advanced technology that quantifies your blood oxygen saturation levels by lighting up the skin with two harmless, specific wavelengths of LED light, infrared and red. This works because infrared light is absorbed by oxygenated blood, whereas red light is absorbed by non-oxygenated blood.

The measurement is taken by projecting two beams of light through your fingertips, earlobes, or other similar body parts based on the model of pulse oximeter you choose. Then, the pulse oximeter evaluates the light's reflection to determine the amount of light that traveled through or was deflected off from the probe sensors at the other end.

After which, depending on the variations in light transmittance, pulse oximeters utilize a statistical algorithm and compute the amount of oxygen that is currently being carried in your blood.

Who are Pulse Oximeters for?

People who have ongoing respiratory and cardiac issues would gain the most from having a pulse oximeter. Measuring oxygen levels frequently is beneficial and highly recommended for people with lung or heart problems like allergies, asthma, sleep apnea, pneumonia, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and congestive heart failure.

Are There Different Types of Pulse Oximeters?     

There are two different types of pulse oximeters, namely clinical-use and home-use pulse oximeters.

The probes, or sensors, for pulse oximeters can be affixed to your fingertips, toes, earlobes, nose, or forehead. Compared to other areas of your body, the tip of your middle finger is where the pulse oximeter probe should typically be attached to get the most reliable results.

Clinical-Use Pulse Oximeters

Pulse oximeter probes often vary when used in a clinic or hospital context. Clinical-use pulse oximeters can be connected to equipment that simultaneously measures a patient's cardiac rhythm. In addition, they can also be connected to devices that monitor blood pressure and body temperature.

Clinical-use pulse oximeters can only be obtained with a doctor's prescription. Prescription oximeters are primarily utilized in hospital environments and are subject to passing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s quality and reliability assessments. You will require a doctor's prescription to utilize one of these in your own home.

Home-Use Pulse Oximeters  

A home-use pulse oximeter can be purchased over-the-counter, without a prescription. They can be found in both physical stores and online shops, and vary greatly in cost, size, and unique features. Unlike prescription oximeters for clinical use, home-use pulse oximeters can be purchased straight from a pharmacy or online retailer as they are not subject to FDA regulation.

The most popular form of home-use pulse oximeters is the fingertip pulse oximeter where a small fingertip probe is attached to your finger. In general, you simply connect the little gadget to your finger, don’t move about, and your measurement will show up in under a minute. Nevertheless, be sure to adhere to the specific manufacturer’s instructions for correct usage, as not every brand is identical. For instance, certain types can only solely be worn by adults, whereas others can be used by kids as well.

Additionally, several home-use pulse oximeters nowadays are smartphone-compatible and can be connected to special apps that store your measurements for printing out, should your doctor need them. For those who require home oxygen treatment or have ongoing illnesses, linking to a smart device makes it seamless and effortless for you to create measurement logs and data archives, plus send results to your medical providers.

How to Choose a Pulse Oximeter for Home Use    

With home-use pulse oximeters, there are several manufacturer options as well as cost factors to consider. When selecting a pulse oximeter for yourself or your household, consider the following questions:

  • Who will use the pulse oximeter?
  • Can you read the display screen easily?
  • Does the device support Bluetooth? This is important if you have a persistent ailment that requires constant monitoring, as Bluetooth compatibility allows you to record and store data on your smartphone so you can easily send them to your doctor when needed.
  • Should it sound an alert when your blood oxygen levels get too low? This function is essential if you plan to wear it overnight.
  • Can you wear it while you sleep? For overnight monitoring, certain designs are more compact and comfortable to wear.

Best Pulse Oximeters for Home Use  

There are a wide variety of home-use pulse oximeter models available for purchase. At a minimum, you should search for pulse oximeters that have been marked as ‘FDA approved’ or ‘for medical use’ on the packaging. You can find these at retailers like Target, Walgreens, or CVS. One additional benefit to consumers is that the majority of home-use pulse oximeters also monitor your pulse rate.

Here are the 10 best home-use pulse oximeters from reputable manufacturers, assessed by these key factors:

  • FDA approved or for medical use
  • Additional pulse rate monitoring feature
  • Retail price
  • Bluetooth support for smartphones
  • Batteries included if required

Best Fingertip Pulse Oximeter: Innovo iP900AP Deluxe Pulse Oximeter ($37) 

By providing both a visual depiction of your heart rhythm and a quantitative indication of your pulse intensity, the Innovo iP900AP with Plethysmograph and Perfusion Index removes any uncertainty from measuring your blood oxygen saturation levels. For added assurance that you're operating the equipment properly, each recorded pulse is accompanied by an audible beeping sound. The enhanced sensor in this design can also adjust for minor movements, providing a more dependable and user-friendly experience.

Other notable properties:

  • An alarm sounds if your oxygen saturation level or pulse rate is outside of your expected range
  • Two batteries are included
  • Screen brightness controls
  • Alco-Screen
  • EnteraLite Infinity
  • First Quality Products
  • Janibell Disposal Systems
  • LiquaCel
  • Stryker