The common medical devices don’t work as well for Black patients. The FDA is now trying to do something about it.

Individuals with darker skin tones may have difficulty using certain medical equipment according to recent studies.

The Food and Drug Administration's recommendations apply to pulse oximeters, which are clip-on devices used in hospitals and medical clinics to ensure patients are getting enough oxygen.

Oximeters have become an essential household device to keep your blood oxygen levels (SpO2) in check. Dipping SpO2 levels is one of the key indicators of the COVID-19 infection in people.

to discuss improving pulse oximeter performance. It also noted that the FDA was considering the “utility of a clinical trial design that includes the entire range of skin pigmentation and also ...

That is, they could be struggling for air despite normal pulse oximeter results. The potential for racial disparities in pulse oximetry was first revealed in a study published 34 years ago.