Can a non-contact infrared thermometer be used interchangeably with other thermometers in an adult Emergency Department?

SummaryIntroductionThermofocus® (Tecnimed, Italy) is a non-contact thermometer licensed for use in babies and adults. Accuracy of this instrument in adults is uncertain.ObjectiveTo perform a pilot study to assess the reliability and validity of Thermofocus® in an adult Emergency Department (ED) population.MethodsTemperatures were measured on a convenience sample of ED and ICU patients. In the ED group, paired Thermofocus® readings and a single SureTemp® (Welch Allyn, USA) oral temperature reading were taken a minute apart. In the ICU group, paired Thermofocus® readings and a single Mon-a-therm Foley-Temp® catheter (Tyco Healthcare, USA) reading were taken a minute apart. Reliability and validity of Thermofocus® measurements were assessed.ResultsSeventy-four SureTemp® readings in ED ranged from 35.4 to 37.8 °C (mean 36.6 °C, S.D. 0.5 °C). Nineteen Mon-a-therm Foley-Temp® readings in ICU ranged from 35.0 to 39.5 °C (mean 37.7 °C, S.D. 0.3 °C). The mean difference between paired Thermofocus® readings was 0.00 °C (S.D. 0.15 °C) with limits of agreement between −0.30 and +0.30 °C. Thermofocus® read 0.87 °C (S.D. 0.58 °C) and 1.17 °C (S.D. 0.67 °C) lower than SureTemp® and Mon-a-therm Foley-Temp® catheter, respectively.ConclusionThermofocus® measurements were reliable. The study showed poor agreement (i.e. low validity) between temperatures measured by Thermofocus® when compared to the other thermometers in use currently at our institution.