Pilot Study on the Comparison of Seven Commonly Used Over-the-Counter Pulse Oximeter Finger Devices

Background: Over-the-counter pulse oximeters are commonly used in patient care but have yet to be evaluated for their accuracy and precision. The objective of the study was to compare the accuracy of seven over-the-counter pulse oximeter finger devices in measuring oxygen saturation (SpO2), with arterial blood gas oxygen saturation (SaO2) as the reference value. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study from June to November 2023. Pulse oximeter readings of participants aged 18 and above were compared with their SaO2. Precision was calculated using mean bias and standard deviation while accuracy was assessed through average root mean square error (ARMS). Subgroup analysis of patients with hypoxemia (SaO2 <95%) was done. Results: The study included 107 participants. Among the devices, ChoiceMMed MD300C29 had the lowest standard deviation (±1.84) and Yongrow showed the lowest mean bias (0.21), indicating higher precision among the devices studied. ChoiceMMed MD300C29 was the most accurate based on the ARMS score (1.89%). In contrast, IMDK had the highest mean bias (-0.90) and the largest standard deviation (±2.47), indicating lower precision. Hypoxemic subgroup analysis revealed significant biases, lower precision, and lower accuracy for all devices. Conclusion: ChoiceMMed MD300C29 and Yongrow demonstrate superior precision, with the former emerging as the most accurate. IMDK lags with the lowest precision and accuracy. Subgroup analysis shows less precision and accuracy of readings for hypoxemic patients, cautioning against the reliance on over-the-counter pulse oximeters for accurate SpO2 measurements. For enhanced accuracy, the study recommends the use of devices with lower mean bias, standard deviation, and ARMS values. ----- This article has supplementary materials which can be accessed here.