C H A P T E R

26
Thermometry Accuracy Lab

In this chapter, we describe the steps for a thermometry laboratory experiment. This lab
is intended to supplement the thermometry lecture based on Chapter 12. It is written
for execution using a hospital-grade electronic thermometer and consumer infrared
thermometer.
Upon completion of this chapter, each student shall be able to:
1. Execute portions of two FDA-recognized consensus standards.
2. Understand the sources of measurement error in oral and ear thermometers.

STRATEGIC PLANNING
During this experiment, you will be testing an electronic and infrared thermometer
under laboratory conditions to determine which thermometer is more accurate. The more
accurate thermometer will be used for reference measurements made with your group
members to assess clinical accuracy.
This lab is based on the following FDA-recognized consensus standards:
• ASTM E1112-00 Standard Specification for Electronic Thermometer for Intermittent
Determination of Patient Temperature (ASTM, 2006).
• ASTM E1965-98 Standard Specification for Infrared Thermometer for Intermittent
Determination of Patient Temperature (ASTM, 2009).
Review these standards before your lab. If there is only one copy of each standard,
make sure that you check the standards out for review before your scheduled lab time.
Make sure you understand how the blackbody in Figure 26.1 was constructed.
This lab should take approximately 3 hr to conduct.

Medical Device Technologies 485 r 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
486 26. THERMOMETRY ACCURACY LAB

Nonmetal mounting flange IR probe FIGURE 26.1 A blackbody im-

mersed in water [Reproduced by permis-
Water level sion from ASTM (2009)].

>20 mm

5 mm

Cu

Size of the opening

200 mm

shall be sufficient
165 mm

Black paint for snug fitting

of the probe end.

Wall thickness 2 mm
Note:
Only critical dimensions
are shown.

36.4 º

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This experiment requires the following calibrated equipment:

• 1 room thermometer
• 1 relative humidity meter
• 1 stopwatch
• 1 Welch Allyn Sure Temp thermometer
• 1 consumer ear thermometer
• 42 Welch Allyn Sure Temp thermometer probe covers
• 42 consumer ear thermometer probe covers
• 3 new AA batteries for Sure Temp thermometer
• new batteries for the consumer ear thermometer
• 1 water bath for electronic thermometer measurements: $ 1-L volume

II. LAB EXPERIMENTS

 MATERIALS AND METHODS 487
• 1 water bath for blackbody measurements: $ 2-L volume, 60.02 C temperature stability
• 2 water reference thermometers (contact imbedded or immersed), with uncertainty
# 60.03 C
• 1 blackbody, constructed according to ASTM E1965-98

Procedure
At your station, you will see two water baths, each holding a water reference thermom-
eter. The water baths have been set to approximately 37.5 C. The water bath for ear ther-
mometer measurements contains the blackbody.
To begin this protocol, record the room temperature and room relative humidity. Insert
new batteries into each thermometer.
We will measure temperature at four temperature settings. If this experiment were con-
ducted in industry, the order of temperature settings would be randomized. But in consid-
eration of total lab time, we will conduct measurements according to increasing
temperature settings. Follow these directions to measure temperature at the following tem-
perature settings, in this order: 37.5, 38.0, 39.0, 39.5 C:
1. Adjust both water baths so that your water reference thermometer reads the desired
setting 60.5 C for 5 min.
2. In random order, immerse the electronic thermometer 6 times and ear thermometer 6
times. Before each measurement, use a new disposable probe cover. Before each
measurement, record the water reference temperature.
3. For each immersion, record the displayed temperature reading.
Determine your reference thermometer through the following steps:
4. Calculate the mean error and mean absolute error for each thermometer, based on 24
readings.
5. Designate the more accurate thermometer as your clinical reference thermometer.
Record the room temperature and room relative humidity. Construct a table for record-
ing ear and oral thermometry measurements from each person in the group, in random
order. You will measure ear and oral temperatures simultaneously, with 6 replications, for
a total number of 18 paired measurements. Follow these directions to make 18 clinical
measurements:
6. Use a new disposable oral probe; use a new disposable ear probe.
7. Insert both probes simultaneously into the subject, following the best practices we
discussed during lecture.
8. For each thermometer, record the displayed temperature readings.
9. Calculate the mean error and mean absolute error, based on 18 paired readings and
your designation of clinical reference thermometer.
Record the room temperature and room relative humidity. Did these measurements
change during the course of the lab?

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488 26. THERMOMETRY ACCURACY LAB

RESULTS AND ANALYSIS

Record the answers to the questions in the written procedure in the Results section of
your lab report.

DISCUSSION

Answer the following questions in the Discussion section of your lab report:
• Why is it necessary to record the room temperature and relative humidity? If the
readings changed between the beginning and end of the lab session, how did this affect
your lab measurements?
• Why is it necessary to randomize temperature measurements?
• Explain the mechanisms behind the water bath accuracy differences in the
thermometers.
• What is the specified blackbody accuracy requirement for the ear thermometer? Do
your measurements meet this requirement? Does a blackbody replicate the ear canal?
• What are the specified water bath accuracy requirements for the oral thermometer? Do
your measurements meet this requirement? Does a water bath accurately replicate the
sublingual pocket?
• For your clinical measurements, what are the specified clinical requirements? Do your
measurements meet these requirements?
• Looking at your calculations, which is a more appropriate calculation for error: mean
error or mean absolute error? Explain your reasoning.
• If you had a fever, which thermometer would you want to use to determine whether
you should go to the hospital?

References
ASTM (2006). ASTM E1112-00 standard specification for electronic thermometer for intermittent determination of patient
temperature. West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM.
ASTM (2009). ASTM E1965-98 standard specification for infrared thermometers for intermittent determination of patient
temperature. West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM.

II. LAB EXPERIMENTS