What is PULSE OX testing ?
Pulse oximetry is a non-invasive diagnostic test used for detecting the percentage of haemoglobin (Hb) that is saturated with oxygen. This oxygen saturation is a measure of how much oxygen the blood is carrying as a percentage of the maximum it could carry. A normal pulse ox test would be 98 to 100. Anything under 95 is too low and kids with CHD have low pulse ox because their hearts do not get enough oxygen in to the blood. How is Pulse Oximetry performed? A pulse oximeter is the device used for performing the test. It has a probe or rather a special light clip that is placed to the patient’s finger or ear lobe (picture on left). The probe/clip is attached to the pulse oximeter, which is a computerised unit, by a cable. The unit displays the percentage of Hb saturated with oxygen. In some pulse oximeter models, the heart rate and blood flow can also be monitored. The oximeter can detect hypoxia before a patient becomes cyanotic. Testing: The testing is non-invasive and does not cause
