title: Accuracy of digital tympanic, oral, axillary, and rectal thermometers compared with standard rectal mercury thermometers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare a number of electronic tympanic, oral, axillary, and rectal measurements with those taken with a standard rectal mercury thermometer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective open study.
  
  
  METHODS
  County hospital, Denmark.
  
  
  METHODS
  200 patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Each of 200 patients had 6 electronic measurements of body temperature: 3 in the auditory canal using Ivac Core Check 2090A, Diateck 9000, and Genius 3000A, 1 in the axilla using Terumo Digital C202. 1 in the mouth using Terumo Digital C402, and 1 in the rectum using a Terumo Digital C402. These were compared with readings from a standard mercury glass thermometer in the rectum.
  
  
  METHODS
  Accuracy of electronic thermometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The rectal electronic measurements were closest to the rectal mercury readings, with a mean (SD) of -0.05 degrees C (0.12), whereas the other measurements gave unacceptable SDs of temperature differences ranging from 0.41 degrees C to 0.53 degrees C.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that electronic rectal temperature measurements are the most accurate. We do not recommend electronic tympanic, oral, or axillary measurements.
authors.affiliation: Surgical Department, Hjørring Hospital, Denmark.
authors.forename: B N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: F S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Madsen
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Løssl
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001365:Axilla; D001831:Body Temperature; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009055:Mouth; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012007:Rectum; D013821:Thermometers; D014432:Tympanic Membrane