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Pulse oximeters may misread oxygen levels in people of color. The FDA wants to change that

Several studies have suggested that darker skin pigmentation can sometimes throw off the accuracy of oximeter readings

FILE – A health worker uses a pulse oximeter to check the oxygen saturation level of another after administering COVID-19 vaccine at a hospital in Gauhati, India, Jan. 21, 2021. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath, File)
FILE – A health worker uses a pulse oximeter to check the oxygen saturation level of another after administering COVID-19 vaccine at a hospital in Gauhati, India, Jan. 21, 2021. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath, File)
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Federal health officials are proposing changes to make sure medical devices that measure oxygen levels are working for patients of color

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