Does ambient light affect the accuracy of pulse oximetry?
OBJECTIVE
Determine whether ambient light affects the accuracy of pulse oximetry readings.


METHODS
Prospective, repeated-measures study.


METHODS
A photographic darkroom.


METHODS
Forty-five faculty and students at a university, none of whom had pale skin, dark skin, or evidence of cardiopulmonary disease. Any nail polish was removed.


METHODS
Five light sources were individually tested: incandescent, quartz-halogen, infrared, fluorescent, and bilirubin light. A pulse oximetry probe was placed on the subject's finger, and the finger and probe were placed sideways under each light source, on a predetermined mark.


RESULTS
The greatest difference in pulse oximetry reading between any of the light sources was 0.5%. Repeated-measures analysis of variance yielded a p value of 0.204.


CONCLUSIONS
Ambient light has no statistically significant effect on pulse oximetry readings. Even had the differences been statistically significant, the magnitude of the differences was small and thus clinically unimportant.
Fluck
Robert R
RR
Department of Cardiorespiratory Sciences, State University of New York, Upstate Medical University, 750 East Adams Street, Syracuse NY 13210, USA. fluckr@mail.upstate.edu
Schroeder
Christine
C
Frani
Greg
G
Kropf
Brad
B
Engbretson
Brenda
B
D000328:Adult; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008029:Lighting; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010092:Oximetry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D010108:Oxyhemoglobins; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
D010108:Oxyhemoglobins