Abstract
In order to compare the accuracy of four infrared tympanic thermometers (ITTs), two infrared standards with 37°C and 40°C were measured ten times consecutively at every try, and measured more than one thousand times for one year, respectively. For 37°C standard, readings within 37 ± 0.1°C were 54, 52, 28, and 0%, respectively. Standard deviations were from 0.14 to 0.39°C. For 40°C, readings within 40 ± 0.2°C were 61, 50, 49, and 0%, respectively. Standard deviations were from 0.21 to 0.37°C. For every try, three ITTs showed the lowest reading at the first reading, and one ITT showed the highest reading at or after the fourth reading. In three ITTs, there was 0.6°C difference between the highest reading and the lowest one at every try, however, another ITT with the largest standard deviation, that difference was more than one centigrade.
