UW News
Jason Hoffman
September 19, 2022
A smartphone’s camera and flash could help people measure blood oxygen levels at home
![A hand holding a cellphone with one finger over the flash and the camera. The flash is shining through the finger and glowing red.](https://uw-s3-cdn.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2022/09/15124615/SpO2smartphone003-150x150.jpg)
In a proof-of-principle study, University of Washington and University of California San Diego researchers have shown that smartphones are capable of detecting blood oxygen saturation levels down to 70%. This is the lowest value that pulse oximeters should be able to measure, as recommended by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.