An evaluation of a plastic strip thermometer

Area of Science:

• Medical Devices
• Clinical Thermometry
• Diagnostic Accuracy

Background:

• Forehead thermometers offer a non-invasive method for temperature assessment.
• Plastic strip thermometers, like the Clinitemp, aim to provide a convenient fever detection tool.
• Evaluating the accuracy of alternative thermometers against established standards is crucial for patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the diagnostic accuracy of the Clinitemp fever detector.
• To compare the Clinitemp's fever detection capabilities against mercury/glass thermometers.
• To determine if the Clinitemp is a suitable substitute for traditional thermometers.

Main Methods:

• A study involving 613 patients compared Clinitemp readings to mercury/glass thermometer measurements.
• Different temperature thresholds (37.8°C/100°F and 37.2°C/99°F) were evaluated for fever detection using the Clinitemp.
• The impact of ambient air temperature on Clinitemp accuracy was considered.

Main Results:

• At a threshold of 37.8°C (100°F), the Clinitemp detected only 34% of fevers identified by mercury/glass thermometers.
• Sensitivity increased to 0.81 when a lower threshold of 37.2°C (99°F) was used.
• Ambient temperature variations significantly affected the accuracy of the Clinitemp readings.

Conclusions:

• The Clinitemp fever detector demonstrates poor accuracy in identifying clinically significant fevers.
• Its performance is inconsistent and influenced by environmental factors.
• The Clinitemp is not a reliable substitute for traditional mercury/glass thermometers in fever detection.