Limitations of forehead infrared body temperature detection for fever screening for severe acute respiratory syndrome

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2004 Dec;25(12):1109-11. doi: 10.1086/502351.

Abstract

We investigated alternative measurement methodology for infrared body thermometry to increase accuracy for outdoor fever screening during the 2003 SARS epidemic. Our results indicate that the auditory meatus temperature is a superior alternative compared with the forehead body surface temperature due to its close approximation to the tympanic temperature.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Body Temperature
  • Ear, Middle
  • Environment
  • Fever / diagnosis*
  • Forehead
  • Humans
  • Infrared Rays
  • Mass Screening*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / complications*
  • Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / diagnosis*
  • Thermometers