Temperature measurements with a temporal scanner: systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

ObjectivesSystematic review and meta-analysis on the diagnostic accuracy of temporal artery thermometers (TAT).DesignSystematic review and meta-analysis. The index test consisted of temperature measurement with TAT. The reference test consisted of an estimation of core temperature.ParticipantsClinical patients as well as healthy participants, with or without fever.InterventionsLiterature search in PubMed, Embase, Cinahl and Web of Science. Three reviewers selected articles for full-text reading after which a further selection was made. Risk of bias was assessed with QUADAS-2. Pooled difference and limits of agreement (LoA) were estimated with an inverse variance weighted approach. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed. Sensitivity and specificity were estimated using hierarchical models. Quality of evidence was assessed according to the GRADE system.Primary and secondary outcome measuresThe primary outcome was measurement accuracy expressed as mean difference ±95% LoA. A secondary outcome was sensitivity and specificity to detect fever. If tympanic thermometers were assessed in the same population as TAT, these results were recorded as well.Results37 articles comprising 5026 participants were selected. Pooled difference was -0.19°C (95% LoA −1.16 to 0.77°C), with moderate quality of evidence. Pooled sensitivity was 0.72 (95% CI 0.61 to 0.81) with a specificity of 0.94 (95% CI 0.87 to 0.97). The subgroup analysis revealed a trend towards underestimation of the temperature for febrile patients. There was a large heterogeneity among included studies with wide LoA which reduced the quality of evidence.ConclusionsTAT is not sufficiently accurate to replace one of the reference methods such as rectal, bladder or more invasive temperature measurement methods. The results are, however, similar to those with tympanic thermometers, both in our meta-analysis and when compared with others. Thus, it seems that TAT could replace tympanic thermometers with the caveat that both methods are inaccurate.Trial registration numberCRD42014008832.

The comparison of temporal temperature measurement method by non-contact infrared thermometer with other body temperature measurement methods

“…For this measurement , reliable equipment must be used (8) . The most accurate method that shows the body temperature is the measurement made via temperature sensors placed in the central venous or arterial (ideally in the pulmonary arteries) catheters (9) .…”

Cost minimisation analysis of thermometry in two different hospital systems

“…In contrast, there have been reports supporting its use in non-febrile adults and children as well as confirming that TAT produces the same results and accuracy as tympanic thermometers 2 16 19–21…”

“…Lastly, it was outside the scope of this study to assess the accuracy of TAT, but previous studies have raised concerns 23 24. Exergen lists several articles reviewing its technology accuracy, and systematic reviews have stated that TAT is at least equal in that regard to peripheral temperature monitoring by the tympanic scanning method 2 25…”

Comparison of Axillary Digital Thermometer with Smart Fever Measurement

“…5 Vücut sıcaklığının ölçümünde uzun zamandır kullanılan aksiller, dilaltı ve rektal bölgelerden civalı veya dijital termometre ile ölçüm yöntemlerinin yanısıra infrared temassız alın termometresi ve infrared timpanik membran termometre gibi yöntemlerin geliştirilmesi, kullanıcılara birçok seçenek sunmuştur. 6,7 Ancak bu durum, hangi yöntemin seçilmesi gerektiği noktasında kafa karışıklığını da beraberinde getirmiştir. Çocukluk döneminde ateş ölçümü için eski zamanlarda sıkça kullanılmış olan ve altın standart kabul edilen civalı veya dijital termometre ile rektal ölçüm yöntemi travmaya veya enfeksiyona yol açabilmesi nedeniyle günümüzde artık daha az tercih edilmektedir.…”