Final answer:
The oxygen carrying capacity of blood is typically assessed using pulse oximetry, a non-invasive test that measures the percent saturation of oxygen to hemoglobin, with normal readings ranging from 95-100 percent.
Step-by-step explanation:
The oxygen carrying capacity of the blood can be assessed through a preanesthetic screening test known as pulse oximetry. A pulse oximeter is a device that measures the percentage of hemoglobin saturated with oxygen, providing an immediate and non-invasive indicator of a person's oxygen status.
The device is clipped to a thin part of the body like a finger and uses two wavelengths of light reflected and absorbed by the blood to determine the percent saturation (percent sat). Normal readings usually range from 95-100 percent. Values below this range may indicate hypoxemia which means low blood oxygen content. For a more precise measurement of oxygen in the blood an arterial blood gas test can be conducted to measure the partial pressure of oxygen or pO2 levels in the blood.