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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Donna Lu

What is a pulse oximeter and can I still buy one in Australia? Demand for devices climbs as more people manage Covid at home

Pulse oximeter measure oxygen in bloodstream. Low levels can be a sign of worsening Covid.
Pulse oximeter measure oxygen in bloodstream. Low levels can be a sign of worsening Covid. Photograph: Grace Cary/Getty Images

Unprecedented Covid cases in Australia have coincided with surging demand for pulse oximeters, as hundreds of thousands of people manage their infections at home.

At-home care guidelines for Covid-19 suggest using pulse oximeters – portable devices worn on the finger – to provide a measurement of oxygen in the bloodstream.

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