Routine Pulse Oximetry Testing for Newborn Babies

Hypoxaemic conditions such as cardiac, respiratory and infective diseases remain a significant cause of death in the early neonatal period. Hypoxaemia is readily detected by pulse oximetry. Pulse oximetry has been shown to be a safe, quick, simple non-invasive test with high specificity and moderate sensitivity for detecting critical congenital heart defects (CCHD) in pre-discharge newborn babies.

This Framework for Practice has the following aims:

• To provide standardised guidance for routine pulse oximetry (PulseOx) testing of all asymptomatic newborn babies of 34 weeks and above born in any setting the UK.
• To identify and manage babies with persistently low oxygen saturations enabling timely investigation and treatment. To minimise unnecessary investigations in babies with delayed cardio-respiratory adaptation (i.e. healthy babies) and prevent unnecessary parent-baby separation.
• To provide guidance for parents on the nature of the PulseOx test.
• To provide guidance on audit and governance regarding pulse oximetry testing.