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Thermometers & Accessories
Thermometers & Accessories
A thermometer is an essential component of any first aid kit or medicine cabinet. Not so long ago, that meant buying a traditional glass thermometer or a simple digital oral thermometer. Today, however, there are many types of thermometers on the market, and choosing the best one for your needs may take a little research. Consider the different types of medical thermometers available and the pros and cons of each.
Glass Thermometers
Glass thermometers can take oral, axillary (under the arm), or rectal temperatures.
Pros: They’re versatile, they don’t need batteries or another power source, and they’re easily sanitized, so they don’t require any accessories.
Cons: They can break, and some glass thermometers may still contain mercury. They must remain in place for three minutes to obtain an accurate reading, and they’re more difficult to read than other types of thermometers.
Standard Digital Thermometers
Like traditional glass thermometers, standard digital thermometers can take oral, axillary, or rectal temperatures.
Pros: They’re versatile and give you a reading in about 30 seconds. They are more accurate than glass thermometers.
Cons: The battery can run down, and the electronics can malfunction. If you’re using them outside of a home setting, you will need to buy probe covers for sanitary reasons.
Ear (Tympanic) Thermometers
Ear thermometers use infrared technology to measure the body’s temperature at the eardrum.
Pros: This type of thermometer is less invasive than using a glass or digital thermometer to take an oral or rectal temp. Readings are nearly instantaneous. Because they are non-invasive, they’re well-suited for use in children.
Cons: They may be less accurate than temperatures taken orally or rectally. Using one requires purchasing thermometer accessories — in this case, probe covers to fit your specific model. The electronic parts can malfunction, as well.
Forehead (Temporal) Thermometers
Like ear thermometers, forehead thermometers use infrared technology to measure temperature, this time at the temple. Many models do not require contact with the skin to work.
Pros: Touch-free models don’t require any accessories and don’t have to be sanitized between uses. They are child-friendly and provide instant readings.
Cons: External factors such as ambient temperature, drafts, wind, and sunlight can affect the device's accuracy. Certain types of clothing can also cause inaccurate readings, as well.
Like other digital thermometers, they require electricity, and electronic parts can malfunction.
Non-Contact Thermometers
Non-contact thermometers use infrared skin probes to take a temperature without touching the skin. These non-touch thermometers provide instant and accurate temperatures in adults, children, and infants.
Thermometer Sheaths and Probe Cover
Thermometer probe covers are often a disposable cover that helps create a safe environment for taking temperatures. Using a thermometer sheath reduces the risk of contamination when sharing a single thermometer. These are helpful for use at home, healthcare facilities, and nursing homes.
Pacifier Thermometers
A fairly new arrival on the scene, pacifier thermometers are intended for infants or toddlers.
Pros: Easy to use in babies and toddlers.
Cons: They must stay in place for a very long time — up to six minutes — without moving. Readings are less accurate than other types of thermometers.
Disposable thermometer strips are also an option, but their accuracy is far lower than other thermometers. The Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine states that they should not be used to make clinical decisions.
A thermometer is a simple but important medical tool. Browse our popular brands including McKesson, AdTemp, and NexTemp to find the thermometer that’s right for you.
A thermometer is an essential component of any first aid kit or medicine cabinet. Not so long ago, that meant buying a traditional glass thermometer or a simple digital oral thermometer. Today, however, there are many types of thermometers on the market, and choosing the best one for your needs may take a little research. Consider the different types of medical thermometers available and the pros and cons of each.
Glass Thermometers
Glass thermometers can take oral, axillary (under the arm), or rectal temperatures.
Pros: They’re versatile, they don’t need batteries or another power source, and they’re easily sanitized, so they don’t require any accessories.
Cons: They can break, and some glass thermometers may still contain mercury. They must remain in place for three minutes to obtain an accurate reading, and they’re more difficult to read than other types of thermometers.
Standard Digital Thermometers
Like traditional glass thermometers, standard digital thermometers can take oral, axillary, or rectal temperatures.
Pros: They’re versatile and give you a reading in about 30 seconds. They are more accurate than glass thermometers.
Cons: The battery can run down, and the electronics can malfunction. If you’re using them outside of a home setting, you will need to buy probe covers for sanitary reasons.
Ear (Tympanic) Thermometers
Ear thermometers use infrared technology to measure the body’s temperature at the eardrum.
Pros: This type of thermometer is less invasive than using a glass or digital thermometer to take an oral or rectal temp. Readings are nearly instantaneous. Because they are non-invasive, they’re well-suited for use in children.
Cons: They may be less accurate than temperatures taken orally or rectally. Using one requires purchasing thermometer accessories — in this case, probe covers to fit your specific model. The electronic parts can malfunction, as well.
Forehead (Temporal) Thermometers
Like ear thermometers, forehead thermometers use infrared technology to measure temperature, this time at the temple. Many models do not require contact with the skin to work.
Pros: Touch-free models don’t require any accessories and don’t have to be sanitized between uses. They are child-friendly and provide instant readings.
Cons: External factors such as ambient temperature, drafts, wind, and sunlight can affect the device's accuracy. Certain types of clothing can also cause inaccurate readings, as well.
Like other digital thermometers, they require electricity, and electronic parts can malfunction.
Non-Contact Thermometers
Non-contact thermometers use infrared skin probes to take a temperature without touching the skin. These non-touch thermometers provide instant and accurate temperatures in adults, children, and infants.
Thermometer Sheaths and Probe Cover
Thermometer probe covers are often a disposable cover that helps create a safe environment for taking temperatures. Using a thermometer sheath reduces the risk of contamination when sharing a single thermometer. These are helpful for use at home, healthcare facilities, and nursing homes.
Pacifier Thermometers
A fairly new arrival on the scene, pacifier thermometers are intended for infants or toddlers.
Pros: Easy to use in babies and toddlers.
Cons: They must stay in place for a very long time — up to six minutes — without moving. Readings are less accurate than other types of thermometers.
Disposable thermometer strips are also an option, but their accuracy is far lower than other thermometers. The Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine states that they should not be used to make clinical decisions.
A thermometer is a simple but important medical tool. Browse our popular brands including McKesson, AdTemp, and NexTemp to find the thermometer that’s right for you.