Pulse oximetry tests are the most common way to measure oxygen levels in the blood. It is non-invasive and can be used to diagnose conditions such as sleep apnea, heart attacks, anemia, and asthma. Intracardiac oximetry is used to measure oxygen levels deeper in the body, while oximetry tests on blood samples outside the body can monitor the health of preterm infants. These tests are available in hospitals and medical settings, as well as for home use.
The most common way to measure the oxygen levels in your flowing blood is to use pulse oximetry tests. By attaching a probe to your fingertip or earlobe, an infrared light can detect the difference between blood cells full of hemoglobin and blood low in oxygen. This diagnostic test is used to discover conditions such as sleep apnea and various heart and lung conditions by allowing doctors and technicians to determine an oxygen saturation percentage. It is also used to monitor blood oxygen levels during surgery. Other ways to measure oxygen include intracardiac oximetry and instruments that can measure oxygen in blood samples outside the body.
Pulse oximetry tests use a device with an infrared light that shines into capillaries. Light reflected from blood with more oxygen appears different from light reflected from blood deprived of oxygen. Oxygenation between and during the pulses is measured, and the information is processed and sent to a computer, where doctors can read a graph showing the percentage of oxygen in the blood. Pulse oximetry is a noninvasive test often done in a laboratory to diagnose sleep apnea, but it can be used to find out and diagnose conditions like heart attacks, anemia, and asthma.
If blood oxygen levels need to be measured deeper in the body, intracardiac oximetry is done. Surgeons insert a catheter with a probe inside it that senses the oxygen content of the blood along the way. Sometimes a fiberoptic light is used, and the device can monitor blood in different parts of the heart to diagnose conditions. The meter may also incorporate sensors to detect pressure levels in the heart and blood vessels.
There are also oximetry tests that are used on blood outside the body. Blood samples are monitored in a blood gas analyzer, which can also measure the acidity of the blood, the level of electrolytes present, or the amount of glucose or lactate present. Such an analyzer is often used to monitor the health of preterm infants and has been found to be an essential tool for quickly assessing their condition.
The different types of oximetry tests are found in the intensive care units of hospitals and in medical settings such as night testing centers for sleep apnea. Equipment for testing blood oxygen levels is also available for use in a patient’s home. Changes in blood oxygen levels can be an indication of many different health conditions, so oximetry tests are often followed up with other tests for diagnostic purposes.
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