Another Demonstration of Bias In Pulse Oximetry

Despite the attention, issues persist.

A few years ago prominent attention was brought to the fact pulse oximetry readings obtained by typical peripheral monitoring devices provided biased results due to the pigment content of skin. The basic finding – paired peripheral oxygenation and arterial oxygenation measurements were only unbiased in light-pigmented skin, whereas arterial oxygen measurements were, in actuality, lower in those with dark-pigmented skin.

Five years later, to no one’s surprise, the same still holds true today – this time, in a brief research report conducted in children:

Considering pulse oximetry is a critical component of medical decision-making, it remains bitterly disappointing little progress seems to have been made on this front.