Anesthesia and analgesia
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Anesthesia and analgesia · Jul 1988
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialThe effect of nail polish on pulse oximetry.
A randomized, blind study examined the effect of nail polish color on measurement of oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry. Fourteen adult volunteers had blue, green, purple, black, and red nail polish applied to their finger nails. A strip-chart recording of oxygen saturation (Nellcor N100) was made in room air and later interpreted in a blinded fashion. ⋯ Spectrophotometric absorbance data suggest that other colors may interfere with pulse oximetry. On the basis of spectrophotometric data, brown-red nail polish was predicted to interfere with oximetry; subsequent pulse oximetry measurements confirmed the prediction. Nail polish should be removed routinely before pulse oximetry monitoring.