Which of the following statements is true regarding carbon monoxide poisoning and pulse oximetry readings?

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Carboxyhemoglobin formation from carbon monoxide binding to hemoglobin interferes with oxygen delivery, yet standard pulse oximetry can’t tell carboxyhemoglobin apart from oxyhemoglobin. Because the device interprets both as saturated oxygen-carrying hemoglobin, the reading can appear normal even when tissue oxygen delivery is impaired. That’s why pulse oximetry readings can be normal in CO poisoning—the measurement isn’t able to identify the presence of CO bound to Hb. To accurately assess CO exposure, you need co-oximetry, which differentiates carboxyhemoglobin from oxyhemoglobin, along with clinical assessment and appropriate oxygen therapy.