Normal ear temperature and rectal temperature, axillary temperature, oral temperature, contrast
body parts ear thermometer rectal temperature oral temperature axillary temperature
normal body temperature 35.8-37.7 35.5-37.5 34.7-37 36.6-38.3

The % Saturation of haemoglobin in the blood can be measured either directly by arterial blood gas analysis or indirectly by pulse oximetry. The % refers to the proportion of Hb that is oxygenated to the total amount of haemoglobin.

Normal ear temperature and rectal temperature, axillary temperature, oral temperature, contrast
body parts ear thermometer rectal temperature oral temperature axillary temperature
normal body temperature 35.8-37.7 35.5-37.5 34.7-37 36.6-38.3

Why do doctors use it?

Pulse oximetry is a method doctors use for rapid assessment and monitoring of a patient’s respiratory function. It is also used to determine which patients might be suffering from hypoxia and should take additional tests.

Self-tracking your blood oxygen level?

Until recently doctors were the only ones to use pulse oximeters, generally in a clinical setting. But as these tools are now more common (understand “smaller and cheaper”) self-tracking your SpO2 has become a reality.

When checking your heart rate, by placing your finger in the back of the Pulse Ox, a red LED and an infrared one are lit and shine through your fingertip. The ratio of red to infrared light that goes through the Pulse Ox‘s photo diode indicates the percentage of oxygenated versus deoxygenated hemoglobin that your blood contains. This blood oxygen saturation is also called SpO2.

 

Sats over 90% are on the top flat portion of the curve and could represent a PaO2 from 8 upwards.
Below 90% the curve is much steeper and a drop in Sats from 90% to 80% represents a large drop in PaO2. Down to 60% Sats and the oxygen content of blood is very low.