Impact of Nail Polish Colour on the Accuracy of Pulse Oximeter Reading in Healthy Individuals

Abstract

Objective: To assess the effect of single-layered common nail polish colour on change in pulse oximeter reading.

Study Design: Cross-sectional analytical study.

Place and Duration of the Study: Combined Military Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan, from Sep 2021 to Apr 2022.

Methodology: Four hundred healthy females were included in the study that was normothermic, had an Oxygen saturation (SpO2) reading of 95% or more and do not have associated comorbidities, nailbed abnormalities or any history of trauma to limb. Individuals having any previous factors were excluded from the study. After informed consent, SpO2 was recorded using a portable infrared pulse oximeter in all four fingernails of the subjects at room temperature and then rechecked after the single-layered common nail polish was applied and dried. Red, green, black and purple were assigned to the index finger,middle finger, ring finger and little finger, respectively. In addition to oxygen saturation, other parameters, including age,gender, educational status, residence etc., were also recorded.

Results: There was a statistically significant difference in oxygen saturation readings via portable infrared pulse oximeter in all four fingernails after applying single-layered common nail polish colours (p-value<0.0001). However, there was no clinically significant difference in oxygen saturation reading recorded in any individual.

Conclusion: A single layer of common nail polish affected the SpO2 reading measured through a portable pulse oximeter. This should be kept in mind when evaluating such patients in emergency reception.