4 ms·

Something I had been thinking about, which the article mentioned and pushed me over the edge into doing: I just went on Amazon and ordered two blood oxygen sat

Something I had been thinking about, which the article mentioned and pushed me over the edge into doing: I just went on Amazon and ordered two blood oxygen saturation meters. One for adults and one for kids. Even if Covid-19 never ends up reaching us, that is a valuable diagnostic tool to have available. Especially for $30 a piece.

sosilkj 7y ago
can anyone recommend an alternative to amazon for such a device? i don't want to take the chance of buying one that's a fake...
- rak00n 7y ago
  There are few that are sold by amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HSAG8BE https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HSAG8BE
  - Forge36 7y ago
    I have no idea how to vet Amazon reviews. Thousands of reviews, very critical negatives about the inaccuracy of the device. I'm tempted (same maker has one for $11) but I don't know how I'd verify the accuracy
- pbourke 7y ago
  Most big chain drugstores sell a house brand pulse oximeter
- timcederman 7y ago
  Two bits of advice: 1. I checked out all the cheap ones, and Zacurate was the only brand I could find that was under $50 and had actually been properly tested for accuracy. 2. If you buy one from Amazon ("ships from and sold by Amazon.com") or that specific brand from "Beyond Med Shop" (which is owned by Zacurate), you won't get a counterfeit.
  - masonic 7y ago
    "ships from and sold by Amazon.com" is no guarantee of authenticity.
Gatsky 7y ago
I don't think this is as useful as it might seem. Significant respiratory impairment may occur before a drop in oxygen saturation, expecially in the young and healthy. I would not be reassured by an oxygen saturation reading if there are other signs of illness. Adequate clinical assessment of a suspected severe respiratory illness comprises multiple factors of which oxygen saturation is only one.
- timcederman 7y ago
  I disagree that they aren't useful. You could make similar arguments on any kind of home medical diagnostics, but any additional information seems better to me. 1. There is evidence that a still normal, but lower-than-expected SPO2 can be predictive of medical issues - https://journals.lww.com/md-journal/fulltext/2018/06220/can_a_pulse_oxygen_saturation_of_95__to_96__help.46.aspx https://journals.lww.com/md-journal/fulltext/2018/06220/can_... But mainly, 2. If there are overcrowded hospitals, having further insight into the severity of the situation seems useful.

sosilkj 7y ago

can anyone recommend an alternative to amazon for such a device? i don't want to take the chance of buying one that's a fake...

rak00n 7y ago
There are few that are sold by amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HSAG8BE https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HSAG8BE
- Forge36 7y ago
  I have no idea how to vet Amazon reviews. Thousands of reviews, very critical negatives about the inaccuracy of the device. I'm tempted (same maker has one for $11) but I don't know how I'd verify the accuracy
pbourke 7y ago
Most big chain drugstores sell a house brand pulse oximeter
timcederman 7y ago
Two bits of advice: 1. I checked out all the cheap ones, and Zacurate was the only brand I could find that was under $50 and had actually been properly tested for accuracy. 2. If you buy one from Amazon ("ships from and sold by Amazon.com") or that specific brand from "Beyond Med Shop" (which is owned by Zacurate), you won't get a counterfeit.
- masonic 7y ago
  "ships from and sold by Amazon.com" is no guarantee of authenticity.

Gatsky 7y ago

I don't think this is as useful as it might seem. Significant respiratory impairment may occur before a drop in oxygen saturation, expecially in the young and healthy. I would not be reassured by an oxygen saturation reading if there are other signs of illness. Adequate clinical assessment of a suspected severe respiratory illness comprises multiple factors of which oxygen saturation is only one.

timcederman 7y ago
I disagree that they aren't useful. You could make similar arguments on any kind of home medical diagnostics, but any additional information seems better to me. 1. There is evidence that a still normal, but lower-than-expected SPO2 can be predictive of medical issues - https://journals.lww.com/md-journal/fulltext/2018/06220/can_a_pulse_oxygen_saturation_of_95__to_96__help.46.aspx https://journals.lww.com/md-journal/fulltext/2018/06220/can_... But mainly, 2. If there are overcrowded hospitals, having further insight into the severity of the situation seems useful.