Accurate Clinical Tympanic Thermometer Measurement System at NMISA

Abstract

Infrared ear thermometers allow users to measure body temperature quickly and non-invasively by inserting a probe into the patient’s ear canal. The effectiveness of tympanic ear thermometers is dependent on how accurate their measurement is. This prompts the demand for accurate and reliable calibration of ear thermometers. Developing capability and providing traceability to the health care facilities in South Africa have become crucial, as there is no calibration laboratory that provides such a service. A standard ear-thermometer black-body source system that is traceable to ITS-90 temperature has been constructed and assembled at the NMISA temperature laboratory. The ITS-90-traceable measurement system developed has a measuring capability of 40 mK (k=2) to 70 mK (k=2) in the temperature range of 35.5 °C to 41.5 °C. At the human body temperature of 37 °C an uncertainty of 45 mK (k=2) is achieved.