PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Loren G Yamamoto AU - Julienne A Yamamoto AU - Joelle B Yamamoto AU - Brennan E Yamamoto AU - Patricia P Yamamoto TI - Nail Polish Does Not Significantly Affect Pulse Oximetry Measurements in Mildly Hypoxic Subjects DP - 2008 Nov 01 TA - Respiratory Care PG - 1470--1474 VI - 53 IP - 11 4099 - http://rc.rcjournal.com/content/53/11/1470.short 4100 - http://rc.rcjournal.com/content/53/11/1470.full AB - BACKGROUND: The effect of nail polish on pulse oximetry measurements in non-hypoxic subjects has been studied extensively. Some studies found that nail polish decreased pulse-oximetry (SpO2) values, whereas others found no effects from nail polish. OBJECTIVE: To determine if nail polish affects SpO2 measurements in mildly hypoxic subjects. METHODS: At high altitude, 5 investigators, whose mean oxygen saturation was 91.3% (mild hypoxia), and with 2 brands of pulse oximeter and oximetry probe, obtained SpO2 measurements from a finger with nail polish and from the matching finger on the opposite hand without nail polish. We tested 9 different nail-polish colors and made 210 pairs of SpO2 measurements. RESULTS: The mean ± SD SpO2 values from the fingers with and without nail polish, respectively, were 91.4 ± 4.1% and 91.2 ± 3.5% (difference –0.2 ± 3.2%, 95% confidence interval 0.2% to 0.4%). CONCLUSIONS: With the pulse oximeters and oximetry probes we tested, nail-polish had no significant effect on SpO2 in mildly hypoxic healthy subjects.