How to Measure the Oxygen Saturation Level without an Oximeter
Your red blood cells have the task of carrying oxygen throughout your arteries and organs. If you suffer from a medical condition such as lung disease, your oxygen saturation levels will decrease. A pulse oximeter is one way to measure your oxygen levels, but this method isn't always accurate. An arterial blood gas test is more accurate, yet requires the drawing of blood from an artery on your body.
Instructions
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Tell your physician if you're taking blood thinners or if you're currently on oxygen. Your physician may want to turn your oxygen off 20 minutes prior to the test, as indicated by the University of Michigan Health System.
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Allow your technician to perform the Allen test, which involves stopping blood flow in the arteries in your wrist, according to the University of Michigan Health System. If your hand turns pale and remains pale, blood will be drawn from another artery on your body.
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Ask your technician to numb the needle site with a numbing anesthesia. Allow your blood to be drawn. It may take more than one attempt to have your blood drawn.
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Keep a bandage on your puncture site. Hold a cotton ball over your puncture site and apply firm pressure until bleeding subsides. A bandage should then be placed over the site by your technician.
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Tips & Warnings
You may feel temporary pain from blood being drawn from your artery.
Bruising will occur at the puncture site.
Don't smoke prior to an arterial blood gas test. This can cause inaccurate results.
Alert your technician if pain is too severe when blood is being drawn.
Don't carry or lift heavy objects for several hours after you've had arterial blood drawn.
Call your physician if pain and throbbing persists after your blood has been drawn. Persistent pain may signify damage to your artery.
Notify your physician if you have numbing or tingling in the limb where your blood was drawn.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit needle image by Zbigniew Nowak from Fotolia.com bandage image by lefebvre_jonathan from Fotolia.com
