News > Fact Check: Why does an oximeter display ‘oxygen level’ of pens?

Fact Check: Why does an oximeter display ‘oxygen level’ of pens?

Amid the deadly second wave of Covid-19, pulse oximeters have become a household gadget in India. However, a viral video showing an oximeter displaying the “oxygen level” of a sketch pen has left many puzzled and shocked. People sharing the video are calling oximeters a scam that are fooling people and creating unnecessary panic.

Are oximeters a scam? No, the oximeter in the video is just simply tricked to deliver such results. To understand this let's understand the working of an oximeter.