Thermometer Comparison
Full update November 2020
There are a wide variety of thermometers on the market to measure a patient’s temperature. The table below describes the types of available thermometers, including general instructions for use, age ranges, and normal temperature values. Continue to the end of the document for important educational points about selecting and using thermometers.
Route/Type/Cost |
General Instructions (may vary by brand) |
Comments |
Rectal ~$6 to $204 |
Lubricate the thermometer tip with petroleum jelly.1 Lay child face down across lap or place child face up and bend their legs to their chest. Rest your free hand against the back of the child’s thighs.1 Insert the thermometer ½ inch to 1 inch into the rectum.1 Hold the thermometer in place until it signals and temperature is displayed.1 Disinfect thermometers before and after use with soap or an alcohol swab.5 |
Most accurate; considered the standard to measure temperature.3,6 Patient has a fever if rectal temperature ≥100.4°F (38°C).1 Recommended route for:
Invasive potential risk of rectal injury.3 Do not use the
same digital thermometer for oral and rectal use. Patients should purchase two thermometers
if they intend to use both routes and label each thermometer.1 |
Oral ~$6 to $204 |
Wait 15 to 30 minutes after drinking or eating before use.1,3,5 Place tip of the thermometer under the tongue.1 Close mouth/lips and breathe through the nose.1 Do not use teeth to hold the thermometer in place.5 Hold the thermometer in place until it signals and temperature is displayed.1 |
Patient has a fever if oral temperature ≥100°F (37.8°C).1 Some patients (especially children) may find it uncomfortable to keep their mouth closed long enough for a reading (usually about one minute).2 For use in children four years or older.5 |
Underarm/Axillary ~$6 to $204 |
Place thermometer under clean and dry armpit.1,3 Thermometer must be touching skin, not clothing.1 Hold the thermometer
in place until it signals (usually Do not use directly after vigorous activity or bathing.3 |
Less accurate than rectal or oral routes. May be useful for screening.1 Patient has a fever if axillary temperature ≥99°F (37.2°C).1 Can be used in children three months and older.1 If a fever is detected, or there is doubt to the reading, confirm reading with another method.1,3 Accuracy can be affected by incorrect placement, movement
during measurement, and inadequate duration of placement.3 |
Ear ~$30 to $50a |
Wait 15 minutes after coming indoors on a cold day before use.5 Gently pull the child’s ear straight back if under one year of age. Pull ear up and back if >1 year of age.5 Gently insert thermometer probe tip into the ear.1 Do not use force or push hard. Follow thermometer directions to ensure the tip is the right distance into the ear canal.1 Hold the thermometer in place until it signals and temperature is displayed.1 |
Patient has a fever if ear temperature is ≥100.4°F (38°C).1 Uses infrared scanner to measure temperature.1 Safe to use.11 Does NOT emit radiation or infrared wavelengths into the body. These are sensors which pick up natural infrared wavelengths that the body emits.12 Noninvasive and takes only seconds for a reading. Not recommended in infants <6 months.1,5 Excessive earwax, a small and/or curved ear canal, ear infections, or improper placement can affect accuracy.1,3 Can give a reading that is too low.6 If used correctly, may be more accurate than oral and axillary temperatures.3 |
Forehead Available as touch and non-touch. Some devices can be used on alternate sites (e.g., wrist, behind the ear, naval, temple), but these sites may not be as accurate as the forehead.3,11 ~$15 to $40a |
To improve accuracy, if moving the device from a hotter or colder area, allow the thermometer to adjust to room temperature for at least 30 minutes.3,5 Check instructions to see where and how close the thermometer must be to the skin.5 For contact devices, gently place flat on the forehead and lightly slide across (maintaining contact) per device directions.1,3 Not recommended for outdoor use on hot days, in direct sunlight, and/or if there is sweat on the skin.14 Temperature should not be measured over scar tissue, open wounds, or abrasions.14 To avoid inaccurate readings, wipe away sweat or dirt and move aside any hair or clothing (e.g., hat, scarf).3,15 |
Patient has a fever if forehead temperature is ≥100.4°F (38°C).1 Uses infrared scanner to measure temperature.1,2 Safe to use.11 Does NOT emit radiation or infrared wavelengths into the body. These are sensors which pick up natural infrared wavelengths that the body emits.12 Noninvasive, fast, for all ages. Can be used when sleeping.1-3,5,7 If used properly, may be the most accurate alternative to a rectal thermometer.2,3,8 However, prone to user error.3,9 Accuracy CAN be affected many factors (e.g., a dirty lens, improper positioning).3,7 Accuracy MIGHT be affected by sex, skin color, and other patient characteristics.9 Readings are NOT
recommended to make clinical decisions.9-11 |
Oral ~$4 to $14a |
Wait 20 to 30 minutes after drinking or eating before use.3 Inspect for cracks or tears. Don’t use if there are defects.3 The pacifier
should be held in the mouth without moving for the instructed time (two
to six minutes), until it signals and the temperature is displayed.2,3 |
Not recommended (even in newborns), due to lack of accuracy data.1,2 Noninvasive. Option for use in infants three months or older when an exact reading is less crucial.3 |
Color changing strips ~<$1 to $6a |
Press
strip against forehead, under the arm, under the tongue, etc; depending on
manufacturer’s instructions. Usually
reads within one minute. Clean
reusable strips as directed. |
Not
recommended, due to lack of accuracy and reliability.1,3,5 Detects
changes in skin temperature, but not reliable to measure core body temperature.3 Available
as reusable and single-use (usually more expensive). May
be helpful for a quick temperature screening.5 |
Wearable
thermometer |
Follow
instructions provided for placement of the sensor (e.g., patch/sticker,
watch, sensor device). |
Not
recommended, due to lack of data and reliability.7 Check
device instructions, including age for use. Some
devices connect to smartphone apps to track temperature, provide alerts, etc. Some
are stick-on “fever indicators,” which are placed on the forehead for up to
48 hours.13 Use
an alternate thermometer to confirm readings.13 |
- Approximate cost based on a sampling from
online retailers.
Important
Educational Points About Selecting and Using Thermometers
- When
choosing a thermometer, consider the patient’s age, ability to follow
directions for use, accuracy, and cost.1,2
- Advise
patients to always read the instructions that come with the thermometer and to
clean the thermometer before and after each use.2
- To
accurately monitor changes throughout an illness, patients should use the same
thermometer and same site of measurement.3
- Explain
to patients that temperature measurements have different normal values, based on
the route used to measure.1
Prepared by the Editors of Therapeutic Research Center (361102).
References
- Mayo Clinic Staff. Thermometer basics: taking your child’s temperature. March 26, 2019. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/infant-and-toddler-health/in-depth/thermometer/art-20047410. (Accessed October 6, 2020).
- Mayo Clinic Staff. Thermometers: understand the options. September 15, 2018. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/fever/in-depth/thermometers/art-20046737. (Accessed October 6, 2020).
- Lemay V, Feret BM. Fever. In Krinsky DL, Ferreri SP, Hemstreet B, et al, Eds. Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs. 19th ed. Washington, DC: American Pharmaceutical Association, 2018.
- Cleveland Clinic. Thermometers: how to take your temperature. March 23, 2020. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/9959-thermometers-how-to-take-your-temperature. (Accessed October 9, 2020).
- American Academy of Pediatrics. How to take your child's temperature. September 30, 2020. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/fever/Pages/How-to-Take-a-Childs-Temperature.aspx. (Accessed October 6, 2020).
- Canadian Paediatric Society. Fever and temperature taking. October 2015. https://www.caringforkids.cps.ca/handouts/fever_and_temperature_taking. (Accessed October 12, 2020).
- Aw J. The non-contact handheld cutaneous infra-red thermometer for fever screening during the COVID-19 global emergency. J Hosp Infect 2020;104:451.
- Greenes DS, Fleisher GR. Accuracy of a noninvasive temporal artery thermometer for use in infants. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2001;155:376-81.
- Khan D, Saultry B, Adams S, et al. Comparative accuracy testing of non-contact infrared thermometers and temporal artery thermometers in an adult hospital setting. Am J Infect Control 2020 Oct 2. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2020.09.012.
- Ward MA. Fever in infants and children: pathophysiology and management. Last updated March 25, 2020. In UpToDate, Post TW (ed), UpToDate, Waltham, MA 02013.
- Chen HY, Chen A, Chen C. Investigation of the impact of infrared sensors on core body temperature monitoring by comparing measurement sites. Sensors 2020;20:2885.
- Swenson A. Infrared thermometers used for COVID-19 testing do not pose risk to pineal gland. July 28, 2020. https://apnews.com/article/fact-checking-9121703294. (Accessed October 12, 2020).
- AMG Medical. Fever Bugz. http://www.fever-bugz.com/. (Accessed June 12, 2020).
- McGill University Office for Science and Society. Is your forehead good enough for a fever check? June 5, 2020. https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/covid-19-health-general-science/your-forehead-good-enough-fever-check. (Accessed October 14, 2020).
- Braun. No touch + forehead thermometer. 2016. https://www.braunhealthcare.com/media/advancedbundles/download/n/t/ntf3000usv1_om_31imntf3190r1_21dec16_fda_web.pdf. (Accessed October 19, 2020).
Cite this document as follows: Clinical Resource, Thermometer Comparison. Pharmacist’s Letter/Prescriber’s Letter. November 2020.