A SpO2 reading of 93% is considered...

• A. Less than 95% (hypoxia).
• B. Between 95-100%.
• C. Exactly 97%.
• D. Over 100%.

Answer: (A)

Normal SpO2 on pulse oximetry is 95–100%. A reading of 93% is below the normal range, indicating hypoxemia. This means the blood is carrying less oxygen than expected, which can lead to tissue hypoxia if it persists or worsens. At this level, clinicians often assess for causes such as respiratory or cardiac issues and consider appropriate interventions (e.g., supplemental oxygen) based on the overall clinical picture. The other statements describe normal oxygen saturation (95–100%), a specific normal value (97%), or an impossible value (over 100%), so they don’t fit the reading. In short, anything below 95% is not normal.