Study: Infrared fever detectors effective

OMAHA, March 23 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists say the use of infrared detection systems is a fast and effective way to identify fever in patients at hospitals and clinical settings.

Researchers at the University of Nebraska Medical Center said they found such a fever screening tool useful in providing split-second, non-contact skin temperature measurements. Fever is a primary symptom of seasonal influenza, H1N1 avian influenza and other infectious diseases.

Dr. Angela Hewlett and colleagues said they evaluated the OptoTherm ThermoScreen in the emergency department of the Nebraska Medical Center to test the tool's viability in a practical clinical setting. The system employs a thermal imaging camera to measure skin temperature by detecting and quantifying the infrared energy being emitted from a person's face.

"The purpose of fever screening is to protect patients," said Hewlett, an assistant professor of infectious diseases. "This technology allows clinicians to rapidly screen people for fever, so that incoming patients and visitors who may be ill can be identified quickly and reduce the danger of spreading diseases … in the hospital."

According to the study, if fever was not detected there was a 97 percent chance there was no fever present, making the ITDS a useful tool for quick fever screenings.

The study was presented in Atlanta during last week's International Conference on Healthcare-Associated Infections.