Finger Oximeter readings

[LifesTooShortYOLO]

Just wondered if anyone knew what levels your Oxygen finger readings go down to if you have Covid?
I remember when they advised people to get one to keep at home so I did, but thinking about it I would have no idea what the readings should or shouldn't be if I had to check.
Can anyone help please?
Thanks 😊

I think anything under 90% over a few hours is cause for concern unless you have other medical or respiratory conditions usually.

More like around 93-94% persistently. Some even say anything below 96%. Obviously check it's acdecent trace, hands warm, no nail varnish on, hand flat and still when recording it.

I’d be concerned if consistently below 96.

Wow really. I always thought 80's or something 😂
When you say consistently below 96, does it go up and down a bit normally?

They don’t work as accurately if you wear nail polish apparently! My DD was at the docs a couple weeks ago & the doctor was flapping cos she had nail polish on & it couldn’t get a steady reading 🤷🏼‍♀️ He said it can really affect it .. I wonder why?!

It can vary between 96-99%. It's more a trend so if bobbing along at around those readings that's fine. If it's staying around 94-95% and is a decent wave form maybe phone 111/get their advice. If it does drop check trace is like a pointy waveform. The flatter it is the less accurate. Make sure hands are warm etc. Check another finger to compare. All kinds of things can affect the reading to make it a falsely low one but the quality of the trace is a good indicator as to whether it's accurate.

@Stasiland

It can vary between 96-99%. It's more a trend so if bobbing along at around those readings that's fine. If it's staying around 94-95% and is a decent wave form maybe phone 111/get their advice. If it does drop check trace is like a pointy waveform. The flatter it is the less accurate. Make sure hands are warm etc. Check another finger to compare. All kinds of things can affect the reading to make it a falsely low one but the quality of the trace is a good indicator as to whether it's accurate.

Thank you for this info! Sorry for being naive but what is a trace? When I use mine it just has the oxygen number and the pulse heart rate number with 5 lines up the side that go up and down red

It also isn’t accurate on black /brown skin apparently

If it shows the pulsing lines rather than a trace, make sure they're nice and regular and go up to the top each time. So if there are five possible lines, a more accurate reading would have all 5 each time.

I didn't have an oximeter before I had covid but when I was admitted they took blood from an artery in my wrist, my oxygen level was 86%. I was admitted for 10 nights and was slowly weaned off the CPAP machine each time the level was 94% or higher. Now I'm home I've got an oximeter. My daytime readings vary from 92% to 96% but at night when laying down it can be as low as 90%. I don't sleep very well because I'm worried and breathless. I've booked an appt with my Dr and having a scan in a couple of weeks to check the lung damage then seeing the consultant

Anything above 94% for the average person is fine.

88-92% if you have a preexisting lung condition

For hospital inpatients with covid the aim is above 90%, however in the community anything below 94% I’d call 111 for an assessment.

Correction pre existing lung condition like COPD and you have been told you now have target saturation’s 88-92

Tbf I’d be worried if my sats were 94% and would definitely be ringing 111.
@Bubbublish please look at the Facebook ‘long covid support group site’. Lots of us on there and

Sorry posted too soo !
And many have reduced sats post covid and are awaiting further tests etc. Lots and lots of common long covid symptoms. Fwiw mine are 95-96% first thing in morning but improve during the day. Take care and hope you are feeling better soon.

From the NHS info. t.co/XMIK2BbJZP

When my daughter had pneumonia 92% was the level of concern.

He said it can really affect it .. I wonder why?!

Because it shines a light through your finger, polish interferes with that and acrylic blocks it.

To get round this put the oximeter on sideways so instead of the light going from your nail to your finger pad wave it go from one side to the other, but remember it will be slightly less accurate.

The ones that clip on your ear lobe are a better bet.

It also isn’t accurate on black /brown skin apparently

Like most things they were designed for white males. They can record slightly lower on dark skin but not enough to be significant

It's on the NHS Covid pages: www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/self-isolation-and-treatment/how-to-treat-symptoms-at-home/

93-94% - double check and seek 111 advice.

92% and below - double check and go to A&E/call 999.

The Covid Monitoring team who cared for me when I had Covid said people were presenting at hospital with very low oxygen levels but weren't showing the usual symptoms. Which is why the NHS lends pulse oximeters to some people with Covid to monitor themselves at home.

I bought a pulse oximeter shortly before I caught Covid and was glad I did, it's given me a lot of peace of mind. I'm asthmatic so it will come in handy whenever my asthma gets worse.