In human volunteers with normal baseline SpO2 (≥97%), a profound drop in SpO2 occurred following intravenous administration of 5 mL of 1% methylene blue with a median nadir SpO2 of 65% although there was a wide range in SpO2 reduction among the subjects 26). Indocyanine green and indigo carmine do not have as great absorption for red light. If you do have a pulse oximeter and are checking your oxygen levels, it’s important to know that a level between 95 and 97% is considered normal by the American Lung Association; anything below that would be a reason to call a doctor, and anything under 90% would be a reason to go to the emergency room. SpO2 Data Delta SpO2 2.9 (min) Basal SpO2 93.4% Awake SpO2 99.0% 7LPH FRQVHFXWLYH 1.0 (min) 7LPH 3.8 (min) 7LPH 2.9 (min) Low SpO2 80.0% High SpO2 99.0% Above are the key values to assess qualification under Medicare Guidelines. Oxygen It appears this patient does NOT qualify for Nocturnal Oxygen per Medicare guidelines.
Doctors will often monitor your oxygen levels. These can be monitored by using a pulse oximeter. You can monitor your own oxygen levels at home by purchasing your own pulse oximeter. Still, what is the best way of interpreting your oxygen levels? What do they mean? Here’s what to know.
97 Spo2 Is Normal
What is partial pressure of arterial oxygen (PaO2)?
This is the most accurate oxygen level that we monitor. It’s how much oxygen is inside your arterial blood. A perfect reading would be 104. However, anything between 80-100 is considered acceptable. A PaO2 of 60-79 is considered mild hypoxemia. A PaO2 of 40-79 is considered moderate hypoxemia, and a PaO2 of less than 40 is considered severe hypoxemia.
Hypoxemia is a fancy term for a low arterial blood oxygen level. Most experts accept the PaO2 value of 60 as the baseline value we want to maintain. If COPD is causing a PaO2 of less than 60, supplemental oxygen is indicated. Usually, with COPD, all that is needed is a low flow of 2-3 LPM. This is usually all that is needed to maintain a PaO2 of 60 or better. If you want, you can read my article, 'How To Qualify For Home Oxygen Therapy?'
There is only one way to learn what your PaO2 is. It is to draw blood from one of your arteries. The artery we usually draw it from is the radial artery. This is an artery that is near the surface on the thumb side of the back of your wrist. This test is called an Arterial Blood Gas (ABG). This is an invasive blood draw.
What is oxygen saturation (SpO2)?
SpO2 is another oxygen level. It’s the percentage of oxygen molecules you inhale that make it to your arterial blood. A perfectly normal value is 98%. However, anything greater than 90% is considered acceptable. For some people with COPD, doctors consider anything between 88-92% to be acceptable.
This value is determined using a pulse oximeter. It’s a small, hand-held device that you slip over a finger, toe, or earlobe. You can purchase these in stores. The ones you buy for your home are usually ones that slip over your finger.
These devices can be purchased for less than $30. You can get them from online stores like Amazon. I have seen them at stores like Aldi. The trick here is that you will want to make sure the one you buy is FDA approved. This will ensure that you are getting an accurate reading.
How are pulse oximeters helpful?
Pulse oximeters are helpful because they offer a simple, noninvasive way of determining your oxygen level. But your SpO2 level can also help determine your PaO2. This is by means of the 4-5-6-7-8-9 Rule.
Is 97 Spo2 Good
It goes like this.
Spo2 97 On Ra
- 40 PaO2 equals an SpO2 of 70%
- 50 PaO2 equals an SpO2 of 80%
- 60 PaO2 equals an Spo2 of 90%
Basically, you take your SpO2 value minus 30. This gives an 'estimate' of where your PaO2 stands. By doing my own experiments, I have determined this 'estimated' PaO2 to be pretty accurate.
So, if your pulse oximeter gives you a reading of 90%, this means that your estimated PaO2 is 60. That’s right about where we want it. This is why the hospital I work for has a policy of maintaining a SpO2 of 90%. There are some exceptions that we can discuss in a future post if you want.
A helpful tool
Pulse oximeters are nice. They allow you and doctors to monitor your oxygen level at pretty much any time and place. It’s simple, painless, and accurate as long as you have a pulse oximeter that is FDA approved. You should talk to your doctor about determining what SpO2 level is best for you. For most people, it’s 90% or better. However, with some people with COPD, 88% is acceptable too. To learn what oxygen levels are best for you, talk to your COPD doctor.
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Sp02
Sp02 can be broken down into the following components: 'S' indicates saturation; P indicates pulse, also SP can stands for serum pressure and 02 is oxygen. The abbreviation is a measure of the amount of oxygen affixed to hemoglobin cells within the circulatory system. In short, this reading indicates the amount of oxygen being carried by red blood cells. As a measurement, SPO2 indicates how effectively a patient is breathing and how well blood is being transported throughout the body. SPO2 uses a percentage to indicate this measurement. The average reading for a normal, fit adult is 96%.
What is it?
SPO2 is measure using a pulse oximeter, which consists of a computerized monitor and probe. The probe may be attached to a patient’s finger toe, nostril or earlobe. The monitor then displays a reading of how saturated the patient’s blood is with oxygen. It achieves this using a wave form which can be visually interpreted and an audible signal that corresponds to the patient’s pulse. The tone of this signal decreases with decreases in blood saturation. The monitor also illustrates heart rate and an alarm is available to alert the user to fast/slow pulse rates and high/low saturation levels.
What does it do?
The SPO2 device measures both oxygenated and deoxygenated blood. Two different frequencies are used to measure these two different types of blood: red and infrared. This method is called spectrophotometry. The red frequency is used to measure desaturated hemoglobin while the infrared frequency is used to measure oxygenated blood. If the greatest absorbance is shown in the infrared band, this indicates high saturation. Conversely, if the greatest absorbance is in the red band, this indicates low saturation
How does it work?
Light is shone through the finger and the resultant rays are monitored by a receiver. Some of the light is absorbed by the tissues and blood and as the artery fills with blood, absorption increases. Similarly, as the arteries empty, the level of absorption decreases. Since the only variable in this exercise is the pulsating blood, the static components (i.e. skin and tissue) can be subtracted from the calculation. Therefore, using the two wavelengths of light collected during measurement, the pulse oximeter calculates the saturation of Oxyhemoglobin.
This chart depicts a PaO2 of 80 with 92% oxygen saturation in the hemoglobin. As the oxygen pressure increases, so too does the hemoglobin saturation levels. The hemoglobin reaches a maximum capacity at 105 or above. The PaO2 facilitates the indirect assessment of PaO2 through the measurement of Sp02.
97% Saturation = 97% PaO2 (normal)
90% Saturation = 60% PaO2 (danger)
80% Saturation = 45% PaO2 (severe hypoxia)