What is the best practice to validate a SpO2 reading with a pulse oximeter?

• A. Confirm the pulse rate displayed on the oximeter by palpating the radial pulse.
• B. Ignore the pulse and rely solely on the display
• C. Calibrate the device by adjusting settings
• D. Measure blood pressure

Answer: (A)

Verifying a pulse oximeter reading by confirming the displayed pulse rate with the palpated radial pulse is the best practice. The device derives SpO2 from pulsatile arterial blood, so matching the screen’s pulse rate with your own wrist pulse helps confirm the reading reflects real physiology and not artifacts from movement, poor contact, or low perfusion. If the rates don’t align, inspect sensor placement, ensure the site is warm and dry, remove nail polish, and minimize movement to improve signal quality.

Relying only on the display can be misleading when artifacts occur, and there isn’t a user-adjustable calibration step for SpO2 that would be appropriate to perform. Measuring blood pressure does not validate the SpO2 reading.