Best/most accurate thermometers for clinical use

Question for doctors,

What is the most accurate/reliable thermometer that you trust for use in practise? I am looking for a reliable thermometer to buy for use in various clinical setting but I am seeing mix reviews for many products. I am aware the need to use different areas due to age etc but I wanted to some advise regarding what thermometers you use and trust in terms of their reliability. Thanks in advance.

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Reply 1

notespad

According to a local paeds SpR: under-arm thermometer are most reliable for children (did not specify an age range, but patient our was <3)

Reply 2

Mr Optimist

Original post by notespad

According to a local paeds SpR: under-arm thermometer are most reliable for children (did not specify an age range, but patient our was <3)

I believe anyone below the age of 5 should have their measurement taken under-arm. I was looking to get a tympanic thermo for use in adults but they have such mix reviews. Obviously when trying to use NEWS2 (I know it's not validated in the community setting) etc it's important we get accurate readings.

(edited 4 years ago)

Reply 3

GANFYD

Original post by Mr Optimist

Almost every GP Practice I know uses a Braun Thermoscan, but we have to have any equipment tested and calibrated annually anyway

Reply 4

Mr Optimist

Original post by GANFYD

Almost every GP Practice I know uses a Braun Thermoscan, but we have to have any equipment tested and calibrated annually anyway

Braun seem to be quite a popular one generally but when I checked the reviews, there were many mixed ones including people accusing the devices of being "inaccurate". Obviously that could just be people not using it properly etc. I'll probably just get a Braun for now.

Reply 5

GANFYD

Original post by Mr Optimist

How can somebody tell if a thermometer is inacurate? Ours are calibrated reguarly and there has never been an issue with them

Reply 6

Reality Check

I can lend you my mercury one, which still has both °F and °C on it.

Literally one of the things I'd rescue in a house fire, along with a child :laugh:

Reply 7

Mr Optimist

Original post by GANFYD

How can somebody tell if a thermometer is inacurate? Ours are calibrated reguarly and there has never been an issue with them

Perhaps they're cross checking it with other thermometers? Also, a complain I see a lot is getting quite different readings despite checking the same area within a small time frame. Like I said, that could just be them not using the devise correctly. But that's why I opened this thread, to get the experience of other clinicians rather than just relying on reviews on Amazon etc.

Reply 8

Mr Optimist

Original post by Reality Check

I can lend you my mercury one, which still has both °F and °C on it.

Literally one of the things I'd rescue in a house fire, along with a child :laugh:

hahaha!

It sounds like you're quite attached to it, I will not put you in agony by temporarily borrowing it from you.

Reply 9

GANFYD

Original post by Mr Optimist

And how do they know which one is inaccurate?
And temp should vary and there is always a margin for error in readings, but the clinical significance of a temp of 36.8C v 37.1C is zero

Reply 10

GANFYD

Original post by Reality Check

I can lend you my mercury one, which still has both °F and °C on it.

Literally one of the things I'd rescue in a house fire, along with a child :laugh:

Is this some random child, or did you have one in particular in mind??

Reply 11

Reality Check

Original post by GANFYD

Is this some random child, or did you have one in particular in mind??

we get all sorts wandering in off the streets round these parts.

Reply 12

GANFYD

Original post by Reality Check

we get all sorts wandering in off the streets round these parts.

Nice to know you have your underwear on over your trousers! At least I will now who to call when I can't get mine out of bed if the house was on fire!

Reply 13

Mr Optimist

Original post by GANFYD

And how do they know which one is inaccurate?
And temp should vary and there is always a margin for error in readings, but the clinical significance of a temp of 36.8C v 37.1C is zero

Seeing different measurements etc from the device could obviously lead to a lay person thinking the devices may be inaccurate. How they decided which is more accurate or not is something you need to go and ask them.
As for your comment regarding the clinical difference between 36.8 vs 37.1C being "zero" I hope you're not assuming that in all ranges because a difference between lets say 36 and 36.1 is certainly not zero clinically speaking. Go have a look at the NEWS2 scoring system for example.

(edited 4 years ago)

Reply 14

Reality Check

Original post by GANFYD

Nice to know you have your underwear on over your trousers! At least I will now who to call when I can't get mine out of bed if the house was on fire!

this is so true. Ganfyd is always the cold voice of reason on TSR - this is what I love about you

Reply 15

GANFYD

Original post by Mr Optimist

I am familiar with NEWS2, thanks, but can assure you the clinical relevance of a difference in temperature of 0.1C at any level is zero

Reply 16

GANFYD

Original post by Reality Check

this is so true. Ganfyd is always the cold voice of reason on TSR - this is what I love about you

Learned it from the masters on TSR! :biggrin:

Reply 17

Mr Optimist

Original post by GANFYD

I am familiar with NEWS2, thanks, but can assure you the clinical relevance of a difference in temperature of 0.1C at any level is zero

Except the clinical relevance can not be zero when validated clinical tools like NEWS2 consider even 0.1C difference to be relevant. The point is not just whether generally someone with a 36C temp is at a higher risk relative to someone with a 36.1 temp but also how these differences are used in clinical setting. You seem to have your own definition of clinical relevance.

Reply 18

moonkatt

Most of the differences in readings from tympanic thermometers stems from poor technique in my experience.

Any equipment you use like this for patient care will need to be regularly calibrated by medical electronics as GANFYD has already mentioned.

Reply 19

Mr Optimist

Original post by moonkatt

I know that is the case in GP surgeries, however in my area of healthcare where I work, they do not provide these tools, I was looking for a thermometer to carry with me to work (I locum in pharmacies). That's why I wanted to get a thermometer that is generally seen as reliable by clinicians. I'll probably just get a Braun and just have it recalibrated annually until I replace it.