FDA meeting to discuss disparities in pulse oximeter accuracy

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) plans to convene a public meeting of the Medical Devices Advisory Committee later this year to discuss disparities in pulse oximeter accuracy. The committee will consider the available evidence about the pulse oximeter accuracy; recommendations for patients and health care providers; and the amount and type of data that manufacturers should provide to assess pulse oximeter accuracy. A recent study found that pulse oximeters may be less accurate in people with dark skin pigmentation, which was associated with significantly delayed or unrecognized eligibility for COVID-19 therapies among Black and Hispanic patients. (Healthcare Purchasing News article, 6/22/22)