Choosing the Best Medical Thermometers For Home and Medical Uses

Health care professionals often need to read a patient's temperature to help diagnose the presence or severity of a fever. This is why thermometers are essential tools that are commonplace in several hospitals and clinics.

This guide discusses all you need to know before buying a medical thermometer.

What is the Medical Thermometer?

Also known as a clinical thermometer, a medical thermometer measures human or animal body temperature. It can also determine the temperature of a solid, like food, a liquid, like water, or a gas, like air. Celsius, Fahrenheit, and kelvin are the three most used temperature measurement units.

Why is a Thermometer Used?

Medical professionals utilize medical thermometers to obtain an accurate reading of a patient's core body temperature. A high reading is a critical diagnostic tool for medical professionals to use when doing patient evaluations since it indicates the presence of an infection or sickness.

Its main benefit is that it helps doctors and clinicians know when a patient’s temperature is too high or too low.

Types Of Medical Thermometers

Digital Thermometer

Digital thermometers get their readings from heat sensors, which are then used to calculate the user's core body temperature.

Digital thermometers have different types of interchangeable probes. This means clinicians can use them for more than the standard oral digital thermometer type. It is possible to take temperature readings from the mouth, the rectum, or the armpit with one of these. These are often removable and can be switched out for better hygiene and to make cleaning easier.

When evaluating the readings on a digital thermometer, consider that the temperature under the armpit (axillary) typically runs around half to one degree Fahrenheit (0.6 degrees Celsius) lower than oral readings.

Oral temperature readings tend to be approximately 0.5 to 1 degree Fahrenheit (0.6 to 0.6 degrees Celsius) cooler when taken with a rectal thermometer.

For obvious reasons, digital medical thermometers must be hygienic and easy to clean. Most of the time, they are also reasonably portable since they need to be moved from site to site. However, accuracy and speed of readout are often paramount.

Handheld digital thermometers, especially those made for use in the medical field, are usually lightweight and easy to use all day. They often have extra features, like timers for pulse and breathing, that make them more useful. Some medical needs are also significant for infrared digital thermometers because they don't have to be touched or invasive.

Mercury-in-Glass Thermometer

In a mercury thermometer, mercury is put into a glass tube, and the tube is marked with a standard temperature scale. The mercury expands and contracts when the temperature changes and the scale shows the temperature. Mercury thermometers can determine how hot or cold the body is, among other functions.

When nurses use a mercury thermometer, they wash them at an average temperature and then give them a few jerks. These jerks bring the mercury level down and fall below the 37⁰C mark or the 98⁰F mark, the average human body temperature.

The thermometer is then kept under the tongue, under the arms, or in the rectum to get the reading on the thermometer.

The design of this thermometer is not meant to let mercury out into the environment. Inside the thermometer, a tightly sealed environment is made to keep it from breaking.

When these thermometers break or are thrown away, however, there is a chance that the mercury will get into the environment. Most users don't think the amount of mercury in a single thermometer is a significant health risk. Still, the mercury in many broken and thrown away thermometers could be a big problem.

Ear (Tympanic) Thermometers

Tympanic thermometers, also called remote ear thermometers, measure the temperature inside the ear canal using an infrared ray. When used correctly, infrared ear thermometers are quick and, for most people, not uncomfortable. Tympanic thermometers can be used on babies older than 6 months, older children, and adults, but they shouldn't be used on newborns.

This is because their ears are too small for them to fit correctly.

Note that earwax or a curved ear canal can make it hard for an infrared ear thermometer to get a correct reading.

Forehead (Temporal) Thermometers

Temporal thermometers have an infrared scanner that measures the heat on the skin's surface. This heat comes from the temporal artery in the forehead, where blood flows.

This thermometer is non-invasive and can even be used on a sleeping patient.

In places like airports, stores, and stadiums, forehead thermometers that don't need to be touched have become very popular.

Temporal thermometers give readings quickly, in just a few seconds. They are easy to use, and babies, kids, and adults can use them.

The readings on a temporal thermometer can be influenced by things like drafts, wind, indoor warming, and sunlight. Also, wearing something like hats or thick coats can change the results.

Factors To Consider Before Purchasing The Right Medical Thermometer

Types

When choosing a thermometer, its type is a significant factor. For instance, if you are particular about performing non-invasive measurements, you may consider buying temporal artery thermometers or axillary thermometers.

If you would be working with patients such as children who can quickly get fidgety, mercury thermometers are not a good option as they can easily fall and spill their mercury content.

You can also consider the type of features that the thermometer has. For example, you might want digital thermometers with backlight features to help you take readings better at night, or you may wish to consider thermometers with storage options in case you want to measure and compare temperature over time.

Application

The age group of the patients that the thermometer is to be used for is also vital when choosing a thermometer. This is especially important when attending to pediatric patients.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends rectal thermometers to be the best for babies below 3 months. But readings from the mouth and forehead are also usually very accurate in these age groups.

For babies and children 3 months to 3 years, the AAP recommends using rectal, axillary (underarm), or tympanic (in-ear) for the most accurate readings.

Children above the age of four can begin to use oral thermometers in addition to rectal, axillary, or tympanic thermometers.

Children may find it challenging to stay still for enough time to enable the thermometer to take a correct reading; thus, even though rectal, oral, or axillary thermometers would work fine, it still might be more convenient to use tympanic or temporal artery thermometers to measure their temperature.

Similarly, tympanic thermometers may be ideal for adults with well-developed ear canals but won’t be suitable for newborns.

Accuracy

This is perhaps the most significant factor, as the best thermometer is the one you can use most correctly.

Digital thermometers are generally considered to be the most accurate kind of thermometers. Their probes are switchable to take measurements from different body locations, making them one of the most reliable and widely used.

Always remember that the readings of a thermometer vary depending on how it is used:

The reading on a rectal thermometer will be about 0.5°F (0.3°C) to 1°F (0.6°C) higher than the reading on an oral thermometer.

Most of the time, oral thermometer readings are 0.5°F (0.3°C) to 1°F (0.6°C) lower than tympanic thermometer readings.

Readings from an axillary thermometer can be 0.5°F (0.3°C) to 1°F (0.6°C) lower than readings from an oral thermometer (and maybe the least reliable).

The readings from a temporal thermometer are often 0.5°F (0.3°C) to 1°F (0.6°C) lower than the readings from an oral thermometer.

Speed

You may also want to consider how fast the thermometer takes to make its measurement. Time is always of the essence with a sick patient, and speedy thermometers guarantee that you don’t waste any.

Forehead infrared thermometers are the fastest to take measurements of temperatures, and they emit a beep almost instantaneously after measuring.

Tympanic thermometers are also fast and provide results in approximately 3 seconds. This makes them more quickly than oral or rectum thermometers.

Digital thermometers are also fast and provide readings much faster than mercury-in-glass thermometers. Digital oral and rectum thermometers give results in about 30 seconds, while axillary thermometers may take 7-10 minutes. Mercury thermometers may take up to 2-3 minutes to read.

Units of Measurement

It would be best if you did not forget to take note of the unit of measurement in which the thermometer takes readings. Most thermometers take measurements using celsius or using Fahrenheit. While the debate about which is more accurate is somewhat irrelevant, it is essential to go for one or the other depending on what part of the world one is from.

Most countries use the metric system and take temperature measurements in Celsius degrees. However, America continues to use the US customary system and take temperature measurements in Fahrenheit. Thus which unit you should go for would depend on what system is in your region.

Anyway, several digital thermometers have the option to switch between Fahrenheit and Celsius, but make sure it, at least, has your preferred method.

Prices

Price is an important consideration. It is critical to strike a balance between receiving a high-quality product at an affordable price. Thermometers with extra features can be helpful, but you may not need anything special.

Many simple digital thermometers that do the job cost less than $20.

Although temporal and tympanic thermometers are more expensive, they produce faster readings.

If you want both oral and rectal use, you can get two for less than the price of some better versions.

You should expect to pay more if you want some of those extra features. Examine the warranty or money-back guarantee.

Medical Thermometer Price guide

iHealth, iProven, Vicks, Philips, and Omron are all reputable manufacturers of thermometers. They offer a variety of options to meet the needs of any clinic.

Some prices of different thermometers are as follows:

• iHealth Non-Contact Infrared Forehead Thermometer: $19.99
• iProven DMT-489 Forehead and Ear Thermometer:$29.99
• Vicks No Touch 3-In-1 Thermometer: $49.99
• Philips Avent Digital thermometer: $23.24
• Omron Mc-720 Non-Contact Forehead Thermometer: $32.95
• Medwish DMN-K3 Thermometer: $27.00
• Medwish DMN-001 Forehead Thermometer: $53.00 

Where to Buy Medical Thermometers at Wholesale Pricing

Medwish offers a wide variety of medical thermometers to meet any clinic's needs, and our bulk pricing options make it easy to get the cabinets you need at a price that fits your budget.

Our experts can help you choose the proper thermometers for your specific needs.

Whether you're looking for digital thermometers or non-contact clinical thermometers, Medwish has the products and services you need to keep your clinic well-stocked.

Contact us today to learn more about our medical thermometers and how we can help you get the best ones.