How to Test O2 Levels

Your lungs allow you to breathe air to provide your body with oxygen. Your red blood cells need to carry sufficient oxygen through your arteries to your internal organs. The amount of oxygen saturated by these blood cells is your oxygen level. You can test your oxygen level by performing an oxygen-saturation test, or pulse oximeter, which measures the amount of oxygen in the blood without the use of a needle.

Things You'll Need

• Pulse oximeter

Instructions

1. Request a prescription for a pulse oximeter from your doctor. Purchase the oximeter from a medical-supply company.

2. Attach the oximeter probe to a finger or ear lobe. The probe shines a light through the lobe or finger and a detector measures the light that comes through the other side. This indicates your oxygen-saturation level and heart rate.

3. Wait several minutes for the machine to display or print your oxygen saturation and pulse rate. Acceptable oxygen-saturation levels are from 95 to 100 percent.

Tips & Warnings

• Check with your insurance company to see if it will reimburse you the cost of the pulse oximeter.

• Pulse oximeters are not a complete measure of respiratory efficiency.

References

• Harvard Health Guide: Oxygen Saturation Tests
• Ohio State University: Your Oxygen Level
• Portable Oxygen: Oximeters
• Emphysema: Altitude, Oxygen Levels and Oximetry

Resources

• Pulse Oximeter Online
• Pulse Oximeter Direct
• Nonin: Pulse Oximetry