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“Why can I get different measurements from forehead vs. ear readings?”
• It is not uncommon to obtain different readings between ear
and forehead as ear readings reflect internal temperature whilst
forehead is external.
• Furthermore, forehead temperature will be affected by
environmental factors such as exposure to heat or cold.
For example, sitting next to a hot radiator or cold air
conditioning unit will directly affect forehead temperature,
and can even make the temperature on one side of the head
different to the other.
“Why can I get different measurements from one ear reading to the next?”
• It is not uncommon for small variances in temperature between
each ear, so always take the temperature in the same ear.
• Larger differences will be caused by positioning and
technique, such as:
• The angle you are holding the thermometer.
• How far you have inserted the probe in to your ear.
• How much your hand may be moving.
This is because different positioning and technique will result
in different parts of the ear canal being measured. This is
illustrated in Fig. 1-3 (below).
• Larger differences will also occur throughout the day as body
temperature fluctuates.
• External factors also influence ear temperature, such as:
• Having been lying on an ear.
• One ear being covered.
• Being exposed to very hot or very cold temperatures.
• Recently been bathing or swimming.
• Obstructions in the ear like earwax will also result in inaccurate
or different readings as they will interfere with the infrared heat
being measured by the eardrum and surrounding tissues. This
is illustrated in Fig. 4. (below)
• Also remember to wait 10 seconds in-between each reading.
Don’t worry if you forget as this device uses our patented ‘Next
Reading Countdown’ feature to reduce misuse.
“Why can I get different measurements from one forehead
reading to the next?”
• Every time you place the probe on your forehead, it is likely to
be in a different part of your head. Since forehead temperature
is affected by environmental factors such as exposure to heat or
cold, placing the probe on a different part of your forehead will
result in different temperatures especially if, for example, you
are sitting next to a hot radiator or cold air conditioning unit.
• Forehead temperature is also affected by proximity to blood
veins, as an area which has more veins close to the skin will be
warmer than an area that has bone under the skin.
• So, for the most accurate forehead temperature, use the Scan
Mode function (as it measures the highest temperature across
the whole forehead), as follows:
• Place the probe gently on your left temple, press and
KEEP pressed the ‘On/Take Temp’ button, move the probe
across your forehead to the right temple (Fig. 5, see page
4) - always keeping the probe in contact with your forehead
- and then let go of the ‘On/Take Temp’ button. Once a beep
sounds, remove the probe from your forehead to read the
temperature on the screen.
• Also remember to wait 10 seconds in-between each reading.
“What is the difference between readings from different parts of the body?”
• Normal body temperature is a range that, as the following table
shows, varies by site:
• Medical research has not yet determined a definitive correlation
between oral, rectal, ear, and armpit temperature measurements,
which is unsurprising given how different sites can be so effected
by external factors. Many medical practitioners advise that
measurements from different sites should not be directly
compared, however some medical practitioners advise the
following correlation of temperature results based on an
average normal oral temperature of 37.0°C
3
/ 98.6°F
3
:
Note: When consulting your physician or other medical professional, communicate
if you have used the Brother Max thermometer to measure ear
or forehead temperature and if possible, note the individual’s
normal Brother Max ear or forehead temperature range as additional
reference (see User’s Manual).
“If I choose to use a probe cover on the Brother Max
thermometer, will this affect the accuracy of my readings?”
• Yes, using a probe cover from another brand of thermometers
WILL affect accuracy as the Brother Max thermometer is
calibrated to work WITHOUT probe covers. So never cover the
probe on the Brother Max thermometer.
Armpit
temperature
3
: Oral temperature
3
: Rectal temperature
3
:
Ear temperature
3
:
0.5°F (0.3°C) to
1.0°F (0.6°C)
lower than Rectal
or Ear temperature
0.5°F (0.3°C) to
1.0°F (0.6°C)
lower than Oral
temperature.
0.5°F (0.3°C) to
1.0°F (0.6°C)
higher than Oral
temperature.
0.5°F (0.3°C) to
1.0°F (0.6°C)
higher than Oral
temperature.
3
Jan Nissl, RN, BS, Rectal, Ear, Oral, And Axillary Temperature Comparison, Everyday Health, Inc, April 2007
Axillary
2
:
Oral
2
:
Rectal
2
:
94.5 - 99.1 ºF
34.7 - 37.3 ºC
95.9 - 99.5 ºF
35.5 - 37.5 ºC
97.9 - 100.4 ºF
36.6 - 38.0 ºC
2
Chamberlain, J.M., Terndrup, T.E., New Light on Ear Thermometer Readings, Contemporary
Paediatrics, March 1994.
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 3
Fig. 2
Fig. 1
infrared
beam
