Pulse Oximeter：7 Tips to Buy the Best Pulse Oximeter for General and Hospital Care

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Pulse oximeters are very important medical devices that are used in nearly every healthcare setting, including hospitals, clinics, doctors’ offices, and nursing homes. They are so compact that they can even be used at home. 

Are you considering purchasing these popular medical devices? Choosing the right pulse oximeter can be quite challenging because there are many different brands, models, and types available on the market. 

Below are some tips we’d love to share with you to help you choose the right pulse oximeter for your particular practice or situation—from accuracy, types, features, displays, and ease of use to certifications, durability, prices, brands, and warranty. So sit back, relax, and read on.

What is a pulse oximeter?

A pulse oximeter is a small device that quickly measures your pulse rate and your blood’s oxygen saturation via light beams. This compact, the non-invasive device is usually clipped onto your fingertip. Pulse oximeters are generally used in clinical settings such as hospitals and clinics, but they can also be used at home. 

Pulse oximeters are available with a prescription or you can find them over-the-counter. Prescription pulse oximeters are reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), require clinical testing to ensure accuracy, and can only be obtained with a prescription by your doctor in order to be used at home.

Over-the-counter pulse oximeters are not regulated by the FDA and, therefore, do not require a prescription. They can be purchased in stores or online. There are also apps available for smartphones that measure oxygen saturation. However, over-the-counter pulse oximeters are not intended for medical purposes.

A pulse oximeter is also known by other names, including blood oxygen monitor, fingertip pulse-ox, finger pulse oximeter, fingertip pulse oximeter, medical-grade pulse oximeter, home pulse oximeter, O2 pulse oximeter, and pulse oximeter machine.

Understanding a pulse oximeter reading

All pulse oximeters display two digital results—an oxygen saturation percentage (SpO2) and pulse rate.

What is considered a normal pulse oximeter reading?

If you are healthy, your average oxygen level should range from 95% to 100%. If you have a chronic lung condition such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), your oxygen saturation may read below 95%. If your oxygen saturation reads below 90%, you should seek immediate medical attention as this reading is considered a medical emergency.

You should not solely rely on a pulse oximeter for evaluating your health or oxygen level. You should pay close attention to and monitor for other signs of low blood oxygen levels, including
A cough that gets worse
Bluish hue in face, lips, or nails
Breathing problems
Pain or tightness in your chest
Rapid heartbeat
Unable to sit still

Only a health care physician can diagnose low oxygen levels.

What are the different types of pulse oximeters available on the market?

There are three different types of pulse oximeters available on the market—fingertip pulse oximeters, handheld pulse oximeters, and fetal pulse oximeters:
Fingertip pulse oximeters are used at home and in clinical settings.
Handheld pulse oximeters are generally used in hospitals and clinics.
Fetal pulse oximeters are used in hospitals to measure the oxygen saturation of a fetus.

Which finger is the best to get the most accurate pulse ox reading?

Studies have shown that the middle finger on your right hand is the best finger to get the most accurate oxygen saturation reading.

Whichever finger you choose to use, make sure it is not cold and does not contain any nail polish

What is the perfusion index (PI) in a pulse oximeter?

Some pulse oximeters feature another value known as the perfusion index (PI). The PI is the ratio of the pulsatile blood flow to the non-pulsatile blood flow in your peripheral tissue, including your fingertip, ear lobe, or toe.6 The perfusion index is a great indicator of how strong the pulse is at the sensor site as well as a great indicator of how accurate the pulse oximeter reads.

What are the uses and applications of pulse oximeters?

Pulse oximeters are used for many different reasons and conditions. Pulse oximeters are often used in patients who have lung conditions or heart problems, including:
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Congestive heart failure (CHF)
Lung Cancer
Pneumonia
Sleep apnea

Pulse oximeters have also become very useful during the COVID-19 pandemic to measure patients’ oxygen saturation levels.

Now that we’ve discussed what pulse oximeters are, the different types of pulse oximeters available, and the different uses for using pulse oximeters, let’s talk about what you should look for when buying your pulse oximeter.

What should you look for when buying a pulse oximeter?

Accuracy

Accurate oxygen saturation readings are a must when it comes to pulse oximeters. No matter what pulse oximeter you select, you must ensure that it measures with accuracy. Pulse oximeters that have been reviewed by the FDA have undergone clinical testing to ensure accuracy.1,2

Type 

Next, you should consider the type of pulse oximeter you need or prefer. Would you prefer a fingertip pulse oximeter or a handheld pulse oximeter? If you will be working with babies, you should consider a fetal pulse oximeter.

Features

Pulse oximeters come with many different features, so you should take those into account as well. Some pulse oximeters provide instant readings while some are programmed with about a 5-second wait time before you can view the results on the screen.3 Some pulse oximeters contain an alarm that will go off once your readings are ready and some pulse oximeters are water-resistant. Some pulse oximeters automatically power off and some you must turn off manually.

Size of the sensor

When selecting the right pulse oximeter and sensor size, you will want to consider how the pulse oximeter will be used, where it will take the measurements and the age and size of the patient.7 For instance, handheld pulse oximeters have different sensors that can be used on the ear lobe, fingertip, forehead, nose, and toe.7 Fetal pulse oximeters are designed to fit on a baby’s fingers, foot, or head.

Display

Is the display bright enough, large enough, and easy to read? Consider also who will be using the pulse oximeter and if they need a display that provides bigger lettering and easy readability. 

Ease of Use

Before purchasing your pulse oximetry device, consider who will be using it to ensure that it is easy to use.

Certifications

You should also consider if your pulse oximeter is certified by the FDA, Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS), or CE. 

Durability

Be sure to review your pulse oximeter’s durability and research how long it lasts. 

Price

Price is also a very important factor when choosing the right pulse oximeter. Of you course you will want the best bang for your buck. Some pulse oximeters may cost around $5 USD while some can cost hundreds to thousands of dollars.9

Brands

There are many different brands of pulse oximeters, including Masimo, Choicemmed, Innovo, and Nellcor. 

Warranty

When purchasing a pulse oximeter, it is very important that you review your warranty for coverage on repairs or replacements.

Pulse Oximeter Price Guide

What are the different pulse oximeter brands and how much do they cost?

There are many different brands of pulse oximeters, including Masimo, Choicemmed, Innovo, and Nellcor that cost anywhere from $10 USD to thousands of dollars.

What is the Medwish.com wholesale price advantage?

We understand that you may have a budget that you are trying to stay within. The good news is that with the Medwish.com platform, you can buy your pulse oximeter device at a wholesale price advantage at: https://www.medwish.com/vital-signs-monitoring/physiological-parameter-instrument/pulse-oximeter/ 

Medwish.com also offers different payment options, including product financing and hospital project financing. We don’t want costs to be a barrier to getting the device you need.

Where can you buy pulse oximeters in bulk at wholesale pricing?

Medwish.com is your one-stop-shop for purchasing medical equipment and devices at a wholesale price advantage. As a global business-to-business platform, Medwish.com supplies medical equipment and devices to countries and regions all around the world with private hospitals being their biggest buyers. 

Want to pay with a VISA, Mastercard, or American Express credit card? No problem. The Medwish.com platform accepts all of those in addition to PayPal, T/T, L/C, Money Graham, Union Pay, and West Union. And your payment is guaranteed 100% secure. The Medwish.com platform also offers logistics services, product inspection, and after-sales services.

Another advantage of the Medwish.com platform includes a complete online shopping experience, including sourcing, ordering, paying, shipping, receiving, and confirming. You may also opt-in for full-time quality-control services to ensure product satisfaction. In addition, the Medwish.com platform works with Huatai Property Insurance to compensate you for any losses or damage to your products due to natural disasters or transportation accidents. And last but not least, the Medwish.com platform provides comprehensive medical equipment categories, including clinical laboratory analysis instruments, electronic and ultrasonic instruments, hemodialysis equipment, and X-ray equipment; emergency room equipment, general ward equipment, gynecology room equipment, and operating room equipment; and healthcare equipment. 

The Medwish.com platform is working hard to become the largest e-commerce marketplace in the world, offering comprehensive services for hospitals all around the globe. To learn more about the Medwish.com platform and the medical products we supply, visit: 
https://www.medwish.com/