Clinical thermometer systems

NPL can calibrate both clinical thermometers (e.g. oral or tympanic/ear) and manufacturer provided calibration sources and our services benefit from direct traceability to the national standards of temperature yielding very low measurement uncertainties. We provide services for temperature measurement devices which employ both contact or non-contact temperature sensor technologies. 

Thermal imagers measure infra-red radiation and through that measurement, and a number of assumptions, are able to infer surface temperature. The technology is well established for qualitative applications such as target identification and recognition for defence and security and in preventative maintenance and quality assurance settings.

The application of thermal imaging technologies to quantitative applications such as healthcare, specifically its use in body temperature screening, has seen recent widespread growth. However there are a number of technical challenges which must be overcome, in order to use thermal imaging for reliable temperature measurement in clinical applications.

NPL is able to help stakeholders (including users and manufacturers of thermal imagers) to understand the capabilities and current limitations of thermal imaging systems. Our expert team can help with measurement assessment, verification, traceable calibration and the determination of measurement uncertainty associated with the data they produce. As part of our national measurement system responsibility, NPL have benchmarked a range of commercial off the shelf thermal imaging systems and the temperature group has published peer reviewed work in this field.

Examples of NPL’s work in the field of thermal imaging technology development:

We have collaborated with researchers and companies on the robust application of thermal imaging where absolute confidence in measurement is required.

In 2008 NPL’s experts were involved in creating the ISO standard for fever screening using thermal imaging and we have worked with the FDA on the assessment processes for technology assessment in this field.

NPL is helping manufacturers and users of thermal imaging technology to understand the limits and potential applications of the technology through:

• Understanding the data associated with the application of thermal imaging technologies in temperature measurement
• Consultancy on using thermal imaging technologies for fever screening, underpinned by accurate temperature measurements
• Enabling customers to state with confidence the temperature measurement capability of their instruments 
• Guidance on the measurement capture, information processing, deployment and application  to improve measurement confidence.

Expert advice and consultancy in temperature measurement across a wide variety of settings including; academia, accredited laboratories, healthcare professionals and industry.

NPL provides training courses to improve best practice in temperature measurement and the overview of the course can be accessed here.