An evaluation of a plastic strip thermometer

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Abstract
The Clinitemp fever detector is a plastic strip thermometer designed to be placed on the forehead and to detect body temperature by changing color. In a sample of 613 patients, the ability of the Clinitemp to detect fevers detected by traditional mercury/glass thermometers was evaluated. When a Clinitemp reading of 37.8.degree. C (100.degree. F) was used to demark fever, the Clinitemp detected 34% of the clinically significant fevers detected by the mercury/glass thermometers. The sensitivity of the Clinitemp rose to 0.81 when a Clinitemp reading of 37.2.degree. C (99.degree. F) was used to demark fever. The accuracy of the Clinitemp was affected by variations in ambient air temperature. A reassessment of previously published evaluations of plastic strip thermometers suggests these results are consistent with other experimental findings. The Clinitemp is unacceptable as a substitute for the mercury/glass thermometer.

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