RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Effect of opaque wraps for pulse oximeter sensors: randomised cross-over trial JF Archives of Disease in Childhood - Fetal and Neonatal Edition JO Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health SP 57 OP 61 DO 10.1136/archdischild-2020-319049 VO 106 IS 1 A1 Kannan Loganathan, Prakash A1 O'Shea, Joyce E A1 Harikumar, Chidambara A1 Brigham, John C A1 Rabi, Yacov A1 Gupta, Samir YR 2021 UL http://fn.bmj.com/content/106/1/57.abstract AB Background Evidence is lacking as to whether ambient light or phototherapy light could interfere with pulse oximeter performance.Methods In this randomised cross-over trial, we recruited neonates of gestation >24 weeks. Consented infants were randomly assigned to either pulse oximeter sensor with opaque wrap or without opaque wrap. Nellcor and Masimo sensors were applied simultaneously to different feet for 10 min of recording. Infants were crossed over to the other intervention for a further 10 min, totalling 20 min recording per infant. Primary outcome was faster acquisition of data with shielding of pulse oximeter sensor as compared with not shielding.Results A total of 96 babies were recruited. There was no difference in primary outcome of time taken to display valid data between the two groups (opaque wrap: 12.73±3.1 s vs no opaque wrap: 13.16±3.3 s, p=0.27). There was no difference in any of the secondary outcomes (percentage of valid data points, percentage of time saturation below target, and so on) between the two groups in both pulse oximeters. Masimo sensor readings displayed a higher mean oxygen saturation (mean difference of 2.85, p=0.001) and lower percentage of time saturation below 94% (mean difference of −27.8, p=0.001) than Nellcor in both groups. There was no difference in any of the outcomes in babies receiving phototherapy (n=21).Conclusion In this study, shielding the pulse oximeter sensor from ambient light or phototherapy light did not yield faster data acquisition or better data quality.Trial registration number ISRCTN10302534