Physicians say some patients show no breathing problems, despite low O2 levels.
Antibody testing can determine if a person’s blood shows signs of COVID-19 exposure.Dr. Sunny Jha, a University of Southern California anesthesiologist, recently treated a man in his 60s who tested positive for COVID-19. Since the disease is known to attack the lungs, Jha tested the man's oxygen levels, though the man said he didn't have any breathing problems or any other sign of low oxygen.
A nurse wearing personal protective equipment , tends to a COVID-19 patient in a Stamford Hospital intensive care unit , April 24, 2020 in Stamford, Conn.It's a condition that doctors say some at-risk people may be able to detect early with the help of a cheap, at-home device called a pulse oximeter, thoughthat healthy people without underlying medical conditions should not rush out to buy the commercially available devices.
"It's hard to believe what's in front of you at times. There is this subset of COVID patients where I don't believe my eyes," Moon said.Doctors said they're concerned about people going too long with low oxygen levels, because it can cause debilitating complications in critical bodily functions. A single number may be indicative of a problem, he said, but doctors should look more holistically at the patient's lung function and clinical picture to see how the coronavirus might have affected them.
While hospital and medical-grade devices are more expensive, at-home versions can be purchased for around $50 and are generally believed to be accurate to within two to five percentage points depending on the brand, according to pulmonoligists with whom ABC News spoke.But doctors also urged caution when it comes to at-home use. First, those who do not already have respiratory issues don't need one to monitor for early signs of COVID-19, experts said.
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