11 Essentials for Accurate Pulse Oximeter Readings

4. How skin tone can affect readings and what to do

Research has shown that optical pulse oximeters can be less accurate for people with darker skin tones, especially at lower oxygen saturations. Some studies and manufacturer reports note a tendency toward overestimation in certain situations, meaning low saturations could be missed. (Source: Medtronic research; recent studies.) The practical response is simple and respectful: if a low reading is unexpected, verify it using a second finger, try a different device, and assess symptoms like breathlessness, color changes, or altered mental state. Clinicians should be aware of this limitation and not rely solely on a single pulse oximeter value when evaluating people with darker skin. At home, getting a baseline when healthy helps spot real changes later. If you wear a device for the whole family, note which readings have matched clinic values historically; that helps you know which device and method are most reliable for your household. In clinical settings, teams increasingly pair pulse oximetry with other measures such as respiratory rate and clinical exam to reduce bias in decision-making.