Why does a patient with CO poisoning have cherry red skin coloring instead of cyanosis?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

CO rapidly binds to the hemoglobin, forming carboxyhemoglobin, which has a bright red color. This results in a red skin coloring instead of cyanosis, which occurs when there is a decreased amount of oxygen available to bind to the hemoglobin in the blood, causing a blueish tint to the skin. In CO poisoning, the hemoglobin is bound to CO, which prevents oxygen from binding, resulting in an excess of carboxyhemoglobin.

Why Does a Patient with CO Poisoning Have Cherry Red