Pulse oximetry is a noninvasive, painless test that measures the oxygen saturation level of your blood. Here’s how it works and what the readings mean.

Pulse oximeters are electronic devices that clamp onto a patient’s finger to estimate their blood oxygen levels and pulse rate. Prescription and over-the-counter versions of these devices became ...

Pulse oximeters were invented in 1974, and the evidence of flawed pulse oximeter readings in people with dark skin dates to the 1980s.

Manufacturers increasingly but still infrequently follow Food and Drug Administration guidance that recommends testing pulse oximeters on participants with a range of skin pigmentations, according ...