# Are no-contact thermometers "totally inaccurate" with "no science" to back them up?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-no-contact-thermometers-totally-inaccurate-with-no-science-to-back-them-up/950995>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 20, 2021, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-no-contact-thermometers-totally-inaccurate-with-no-science-to-back-them-up/950995 "2021-09-20T14:05:17Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 2

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**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\
**Post date:** [September 20, 2021, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-no-contact-thermometers-totally-inaccurate-with-no-science-to-back-them-up/950995/2 "2021-09-20T14:12:11Z")

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From the previous topic, **Machine\_Elf** had quoted an article that cited [this paper](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK263238/) reviewing the science on no-contact thermometers.

> [@Accuracy of no touch thermometers](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/accuracy-of-no-touch-thermometers/939223/2):
>
> Supposedly pretty accurate:
> 
> [https://health.clevelandclinic.org/are-infrared-thermometers-accurate/](https://health.clevelandclinic.org/are-infrared-thermometers-accurate/)
> 
> > [Research](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK263237/) has shown that, when used correctly, infrared or no-contact thermometers are just as accurate as oral or rectal thermometers.

But from the linked paper itself, the relevant key finding says otherwise.

> Evidence for the accuracy of infrared skin thermometers is equivocal and requires more research.

Confusingly, the paper lists Exergen thermometers are in the infrared/no-contact category. 😕

~Max

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