- In this report
- Overview
- November 2011 Ratings
- Test results
Hottest fever thermometers
This article appeared in 
With an eye to cold and flu season, we tested 10 thermometers that are probably speedier than those you used growing up. We tested two types on four adults without fevers, comparing each device's readout against a medical thermometer's. The results show that you can save a bundle if you can skip a few features. (Ratings are available to subscribers.)
How we tested
Our sensory panelists assessed ease of use and comfort; 19 children told us about comfort, too. Our engineers also dropped the thermometers to see whether any broke. (None did.)
We used digital stick thermometers orally; most can instead be used to take underarm or rectal temperature. They're the most widely sold and cheapest type, but a readout takes 10 to 80-plus seconds. We also tested four infrared thermometers, including ear, forehead, and noncontact models. They can be more difficult to position, but their readout takes just 1 to 3 seconds.
Where to put it?
Temperatures taken by forehead or mouth are often accurate, our medical experts say. Ear readings are generally accurate, but placing the thermometer can be tricky, and wax can interfere. Rectal temperature is the "gold standard" because it is the closest to the body's core temperature.
