Clinical performance of infrared consumer-grade thermometers

Abstract

Background and purpose: Technology of ear infrared (IR) thermometers has improved. This study compared a modern ear thermometer to forehead or temporal artery thermometers.

Methods: Temperatures were measured with a heated-tip ear thermometer, a temporal artery thermometer, 3 forehead thermometers, and a thermistor-based reference thermometer in monitor mode.

Results: In 171 subjects, mean bias with the forehead thermometers was significantly higher (p < .001) than with the ear thermometer (0.01 degrees C +/- 0.41 degrees C). In 64 febrile subjects, bias with the ear thermometer was significantly lower than with 3 of the other thermometers. A false-negative reading was less likely with the ear thermometer (8%) versus the others (55%, 56%, 28%, and 47%).

Conclusions: Modem ear thermometry provides more precise measurements closer to those of a reference thermometer and is less likely to give false-negative readings than forehead or temporal artery measurements.