WATERTOWN, Mass., Feb. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Measuring the
body temperatures of newborns with temporal artery thermometry is
as accurate as using rectal thermometers, according to a
cross-sectional study recently published in Paediatrica
Indonesiana. Quick, safe and accurate thermometry methods are
necessary when measuring neonate temperatures.
Data were collected from June-July 2008 at the Sanglah Hospital
within the Neonatology Division of the Department of Child Health
Medical School at Udayana University. Readings were taken
from infants aged 24 hours and older who encompassed the
appropriate weight and were not affected by trauma. One
physician measured the temperatures of 134 newborns with three
types of measurement: temporal artery, axillary and rectal.
The Exergen TAT-5000 model for temporal artery thermometry
was compared to traditional measurement of axillary and rectal
thermometers to “assess if the tested thermometers could be used
interchangeably with the reference thermometer.”(1) The rectal
thermometer (RT) was used as the reference thermometer.
The results of the study found a strong correlation between
temporal artery and rectal thermometers: “if the difference
of less than or equal to 0.5 degrees C between methods of
temperature measurement is being considered not significantly
important for the clinical decision, TAT can be used with RT
interchangeable.”(1) The cross-sectional analysis also
confirmed that temporal thermometry produces more precise readings
than the axillary, or underarm, method.
“We developed the temporal artery thermometer in response to the
need for measuring infants’ temperatures in a noninvasive, safe and
quick manner,” said Francesco Pompei, Ph.D., CEO of Exergen
Corporation. “This study shows Exergen’s TAT-5000
TemporalScanner can be used in place of rectal thermometers.”
This study was not affiliated wi
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