title: A brief report on the normal range of forehead temperature as determined by noncontact, handheld, infrared thermometer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Noncontact forehead temperature measurement by handheld infrared thermometer was used as a screening tool for fever. However, the accuracy data and normal range of forehead temperature determined by this method were not available.
  
  
  METHODS
  The temperature readings from 3 handheld infrared thermometers were validated against an electronic thermometer. Normal range of forehead temperature was determined by measuring the forehead temperature in 1000 apparently healthy subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant differences were detected in readings obtained by the 3 different handheld infrared thermometers (analysis of covariance, P < .001) The most accurate one was chosen, and the normal range of forehead temperature in 1000 subjects detected by this method was 31.0 degrees C to 35.6 degrees C.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study shows that commercially available, handheld infrared thermometers require individual validation. Forehead temperature in excess of 35.6 degrees C is suggestive of fever. Further studies are required to confirm accuracy of this value in detecting fever.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Kwong Wah Hospital, Kowloon, Hong Kong. dkkng@ha.org.hk
authors.forename: Daniel Kwok-keung
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: Chung-hong
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Eric Yat-tung
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Ka-li
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Kwok
authors.forename: Pok-yu
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Chow
authors.forename: Wing-Fai
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: Jackson Che-Shun
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Ho
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001831:Body Temperature; D005260:Female; D005546:Forehead; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D013821:Thermometers