Comparative Analysis of Human Body Temperatures Measured with Noncontact and Contact Thermometers

Body temperature measurement is one of the basic methods in clinical diagnosis. The problems of thermometry—interpretation of the accuracy and repeatability of various types of thermometers—are still being discussed, especially during the current pandemic in connection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus resp...

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Main Authors: Patrycja Dolibog, Barbara Pietrzyk, Klaudia Kierszniok, Krzysztof Pawlicki
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-02-01
Series:Healthcare
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/10/2/331
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author Patrycja Dolibog
Barbara Pietrzyk
Klaudia Kierszniok
Krzysztof Pawlicki
author_facet Patrycja Dolibog
Barbara Pietrzyk
Klaudia Kierszniok
Krzysztof Pawlicki
author_sort Patrycja Dolibog
collection DOAJ
description Body temperature measurement is one of the basic methods in clinical diagnosis. The problems of thermometry—interpretation of the accuracy and repeatability of various types of thermometers—are still being discussed, especially during the current pandemic in connection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus responsible for causing the COVID-19 disease. The aim of the study was to compare surface temperatures of the human body measured by various techniques, in particular a noncontact thermometer (infrared) and contact thermometers (mercury, mercury-free, electronic). The study included 102 randomly selected healthy women and men (age 18–79 years). The Bland–Altman method was used to estimate the 95% reproducibility coefficient, i.e., to assess the degree of conformity between different attempts. Temperatures measured with contact thermometers in the armpit are higher than temperatures measured without contact at the frontal area of the head. The methods used to measure with contact thermometers and a noncontact infrared thermometer statistically showed high measurement reliability. In order to correctly interpret the result of measuring human body temperature, it is necessary to indicate the place of measurement and the type of thermometer used.
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spelling doaj.art-0fa03df379fd418eafe5b849bd112ab12023-11-23T20:10:08ZengMDPI AGHealthcare2227-90322022-02-0110233110.3390/healthcare10020331Comparative Analysis of Human Body Temperatures Measured with Noncontact and Contact ThermometersPatrycja Dolibog0Barbara Pietrzyk1Klaudia Kierszniok2Krzysztof Pawlicki3Department of Medical Biophysics, Medical University of Silesia, 40-055 Katowice, PolandDepartment of Medical Biophysics, Medical University of Silesia, 40-055 Katowice, PolandDepartment of Medical Biophysics, Medical University of Silesia, 40-055 Katowice, PolandDepartment of Medical Biophysics, Medical University of Silesia, 40-055 Katowice, PolandBody temperature measurement is one of the basic methods in clinical diagnosis. The problems of thermometry—interpretation of the accuracy and repeatability of various types of thermometers—are still being discussed, especially during the current pandemic in connection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus responsible for causing the COVID-19 disease. The aim of the study was to compare surface temperatures of the human body measured by various techniques, in particular a noncontact thermometer (infrared) and contact thermometers (mercury, mercury-free, electronic). The study included 102 randomly selected healthy women and men (age 18–79 years). The Bland–Altman method was used to estimate the 95% reproducibility coefficient, i.e., to assess the degree of conformity between different attempts. Temperatures measured with contact thermometers in the armpit are higher than temperatures measured without contact at the frontal area of the head. The methods used to measure with contact thermometers and a noncontact infrared thermometer statistically showed high measurement reliability. In order to correctly interpret the result of measuring human body temperature, it is necessary to indicate the place of measurement and the type of thermometer used.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/10/2/331body temperaturethermometer typesCOVID-19 screening
spellingShingle Patrycja Dolibog
Barbara Pietrzyk
Klaudia Kierszniok
Krzysztof Pawlicki
Comparative Analysis of Human Body Temperatures Measured with Noncontact and Contact Thermometers
Healthcare
body temperature
thermometer types
COVID-19 screening
title Comparative Analysis of Human Body Temperatures Measured with Noncontact and Contact Thermometers
title_full Comparative Analysis of Human Body Temperatures Measured with Noncontact and Contact Thermometers
title_fullStr Comparative Analysis of Human Body Temperatures Measured with Noncontact and Contact Thermometers
title_full_unstemmed Comparative Analysis of Human Body Temperatures Measured with Noncontact and Contact Thermometers
title_short Comparative Analysis of Human Body Temperatures Measured with Noncontact and Contact Thermometers
title_sort comparative analysis of human body temperatures measured with noncontact and contact thermometers
topic body temperature
thermometer types
COVID-19 screening
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/10/2/331
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