Exergen TEMPORALSCANNER TAT-5000 - Manual (Page 14)

Frequently Asked
Questions
False low readings:
• Multiple readings can cool the skin, so if you take another
measurement immediately, expect a slightly lower reading.
• Slide the thermometer straight across the forehead, not
down the side of the face where the TA could be embedded
under cartilage or fat.
• Keep the probe flush on the skin, as in the picture on the
right. If angled, you will be measuring ambient air as well
as the TA area
.
Memorable solutions?
• Measure only the side exposed to the environment. The TemporalScanner assumes
the skin it measures has equilibrated to ambient, so a down or covered side could be
falsely high as heat is trapped and the skin is unable to equilibrate.
• If the up side is not the side closest to you, try scanning from the hairline towards
the center of the forehead.
• Scan slowly across the TA area; if you scan too quickly you can miss the peak.
Conditions that could affect a reading
• Bandages or pressure dressings covering the
forehead.
• Forehead abrasions, burns, sweat.
• Agitated or combative patient.
• Patient’s forehead in direct draft from vent
or fan.
...and their solutions
• If accessible and dry, measure on the
area behind the ear lobe only.
• Consider using the alternate sites:
femoral artery, lateral thoracic, or
axillary areas.
• Thermometer in different ambient temperature
than patient: i.e. window ledge directly
exposed to hot sun or cold weather, or in direct
line of air conditioning or fan.
• The TemporalScanner should be kept
in the same ambient temperature as
your patient. Each 10° difference in
ambient can cause a 1° error in the
reading.
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