Need a pulse oximeter? These models are in stock starting at $24
For the latest corona virus pandemic news and information, visit WHO website.
Raise your hand if you have never heard of a pulse oximeter until a few weeks ago New York Times op-ed piece freaked out everyone by talking about “the infection that silently kills Corona virus Patient. “Now raise your hand if you have made an effort to buy one and find that it is either out of stock or has a significant price loss. (I ordered one from Walmart for $ 29.99; it was a few days later Price up to $ 49.99.)
Good news: pulse oximeters are in stock in some stores, and although you are still paying more than a few weeks ago, there are good deals. Whether you actually need one or not is a different story. I strongly recommend reading Dale Smith’s new report: Pulse oximeters: how they work can help combat COVID-19 and more.
Pay special attention to the section on accuracy. There are tons of pulse oximeters on the market, but not all of them are approved by the FDA to check your blood oxygen level. In addition, at least one study found that many of these over-the-counter devices deliver inaccurate oxygen readings. Which raises the question: should you bother to buy this device at all?
That’s up to you. Here are three options, all of which are in stock at the time of this writing, at three different prices.
Tomtop
If you are not in a hurry, this model of pulse oximeter will be delivered in Chinese warehouse ships within 10 to 20 business days – meaning it can take up to a month to arrive. Amusingly, you get a random color: black, blue, or teal, you can’t choose. It has no user reviews and although it appears as “FDA registered” it is not FDA approved. It is a die roll.
Zacurate
OK, this is currently out of stock, but according to Amazon it will be May 20th and you can now place your order. Everything you need to know about the 500DL-Oximeter can be found in the 6,100 (!) User reviews, which give an impressive 4.7 stars on average.
While it may not be approved by the FDA to monitor your blood oxygen, chances are it’s pretty … Zacurate.
AccuMed
Although it’s sold out on Amazon (where it has a respectable 4.3-star average rating from nearly 1,900 buyers), you can buy this popular model from AccuMed. And it’s FDA approved, which means it should work as advertised. As Smith wrote in the above report, “Note that there is a difference between” FDA Approved “and” FDA Approved “,” Approved “being the less stringent of the two. However, Class II medical devices are like pulse oximeters, are usually “deleted” rather than “approved.”
What do you think about these things Worth it just in case? Or better bet on medical equipment?
Originally released last month. Updated to reflect new prices and availability.
Look at that:
Coronavirus drug shows clear evidence of faster …
2:07
CNET’s cheapskate searches the Internet for special offers on technical products and more. The latest offers and updates can be found in the Cheapskate on Facebook and Twitter. You can find more great purchases on the CNET Deals page CNET Coupons page for the latest promo codes from Best buy, Walmart, Amazon and More. Questions about the Cheapskate blog? You will find the answers on our FAQ page.
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a doctor or other qualified healthcare provider if you have any questions about an illness or health goals.
