Breath test could replace needles for checking pulse oximeters

NCT ID NCT03628560

Terminated Knowledge-focused Sponsor: Duke University Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Aug 11, 2026 · Last updated Aug 12, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study tests whether using expired (end-tidal) oxygen values, instead of arterial blood samples, can accurately measure the performance of pulse oximeters. Healthy adults aged 18–50 will undergo controlled oxygen desaturation sequences using a device called RespirAct, which also regulates carbon dioxide levels. The goal is to see if this less invasive approach can validate pulse oximeter accuracy as reliably as traditional blood-based methods.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: RespirAct device sequences that control blood carbon dioxide levels to induce controlled oxygen desaturation
What this could lead to: If successful, this could make pulse oximeter validation faster, less invasive, and more accessible by reducing the need for arterial blood draws.
What could go wrong: This is a very small, early feasibility study with only two participants, so results may not generalize. The method must prove it matches the accuracy of traditional blood-based measurements.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Hypoxia

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

DESATURATION OF BLOOD HYPOXEMIA

Contacts and locations

Locations

Duke University

Durham, North Carolina, 27710, United States

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