# Do forehead thermometers spread infections at doctors offices?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-forehead-thermometers-spread-infections-at-doctors-offices/834023>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [May 15, 2019, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-forehead-thermometers-spread-infections-at-doctors-offices/834023 "2019-05-15T22:27:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\
**Post date:** [May 17, 2019, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-forehead-thermometers-spread-infections-at-doctors-offices/834023/21 "2019-05-17T17:30:08Z")

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> [@GuanoLad](#):
>
> I thought they stuck something in your ear to read temperatures. Have they changed it to something new, or is forehead reading an older technology?

No idea if the tech is new or not, but the ones from [Exergen](https://www.exergen.com/professional-medical-products/products) seem to be the leading variety.

Th maker does offer disposable covers for the tip, or they advocate wiping it with a standard alohol prep pad between patients. As many times as I’ve had one of them swiped across my forehead, I’ve never noticed use of a cover, so I can only assume the thing gets wiped when the room is cleaned up between patients.

Even if they don’t clean the tip between uses, it’s still probably one of the lowest-risk possible infection vectors you’ll encounter at the doctor’s office. The pen chained to the clipboard you used when you signed in - did the last person wash their hands after stopping at the restroom on the way in? :eek:

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**Author:** ![Teuton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teuton/32/3864_2.png) [@Teuton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teuton)\
**Post date:** [May 17, 2019, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-forehead-thermometers-spread-infections-at-doctors-offices/834023/22 "2019-05-17T19:51:06Z")

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> [@mixdenny](#):
>
> Don’t get an Uber or Lyft ride after their latest report. More germs on the car door handle then toilet seats.

That, at least, is not surprising, since [toilet seats aren’t really that dirty.](https://metro.co.uk/2016/04/15/10-things-that-are-dirtier-than-toilet-seats-5811405/)

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**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\
**Post date:** [May 17, 2019, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-forehead-thermometers-spread-infections-at-doctors-offices/834023/23 "2019-05-17T21:58:12Z")

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Think that clipboard they gave you to fill out forms gets scrubbed very often? Hope you used your own pen!

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