Non-Contact Infrared Thermography for Fever Screening in Post-Pandemic Public Health Strategy
Implementing Efficient Infrared Fever Detection to Safeguard Public Spaces and Workplaces
The Critical Need for Non-Contact Fever Screening in Post-Pandemic Public Health Strategy
The need for effective and efficient fever screening methods has become of greatest importance in the wake of global health crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Fever, a common symptom of many infectious diseases, including COVID-19, is a critical indicator of potential illness or virus. As businesses and public spaces seek to reopen safely, it is vital to implement measures that ensure healthy employees’ and visitors’ health and safety to avoid spreading the virus. Traditional methods of fever measurement, such as oral thermometers, are invasive but also time-consuming and impractical for large-scale screening. Additionally, the risk of cross-contamination through contact-based methods further necessitates a non-contact approach.
Infrared temperature measurement technology offers a solution by enabling quick, accurate, and non-invasive fever detection. The motivation for deploying IR temperature screening lies in its ability to rapidly identify individuals with elevated body temperatures, thereby preventing the spread of infections and maintaining a safe environment. Virus epidemics like the Swine influenza in 2009/2010 and the Ebola virus in 2014 have previously highlighted the global demand for suitable screening techniques that allow fast, non-contact detection of individuals with potential fever. The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified this need, pushing for more reliable and efficient solutions. Implementing an effective fever screening system can significantly mitigate the risk of viral transmission in high-traffic areas, such as workplaces, airports, schools, and public venues, thus playing a crucial role in public health and safety strategies.
Enhanced Fever Screening Accuracy with Infrared Reference Source and Additional Calibration Points
The solution to effective fever screening lies in using advanced infrared thermography technology, specifically designed to detect elevated skin temperatures in a non-contact manner. The Optris fever screening system offers a comprehensive, technically advanced solution for monitoring and maintaining public health.
The thermal imaging system utilizes the correlation between external skin temperature and core body temperature by focusing on the face’s medial canthus (tear duct) area, which offers the most accurate external temperature reading. The effectiveness of an IR camera-based screening system in detecting fever lies in its ability to identify external face temperatures at the tear duct that are significantly higher than the average temperatures in a population exposed to similar ambient conditions. This precision allows for the reliable identification of individuals with elevated body temperatures, ensuring a more effective fever screening process.
The Optris PI or Xi infrared cameras produce fine thermal images, making them ideal tools to detect temperature differences in people. These infrared cameras operate within a temperature range of –20 °C … 100 °C and are calibrated with an additional calibration point at 35 °C, which is traceable to NIST or PTB standards to ensure temperature accuracy. The PI infrared camera’s sensitivity, capable of detecting temperature differences as minute as 0.04 °C, allows for precise identification of individuals with fever.
Most infrared cameras with 8 μm -14 μm spectral response are specified with an accuracy of +/- 2 °C or 2 % of the reading based on deployments in industrial environments in various ambient conditions. Many infrared cameras with microbolometer sensors are promoted today with accuracies of +/- 0.5 °C or better. These accuracies cannot be achieved without using a black body reference source. The source must be stable, have high emissivity, and be positioned in the scene proximate to the subject to be scanned. The Optris BR 20AR, an ambient referencing source, can be combined with our PI infrared cameras. The system’s integration with the BR 20AR ambient referencing source further improves measurement accuracy. The black body has a 16-bit digital temperature sensor with an accuracy of +/- 0.1 °C. By integrating this highly accurate reference signal into our PIX Connect software, we can reduce camera uncertainties resulting from device adjustment, ambient temperature drift, and short-term stability down to a system accuracy of +/- 0.5 °C with a confidence interval of 95%.
The accompanying PIX Connect software enhances functionality by enabling color overlays highlighting areas exceeding preset temperature thresholds. This feature facilitates the quick identification of potential fever cases within a crowd, although serial screening of individuals is recommended for maximum accuracy. The system operates discreetly, with a visual alarm that quickly identifies subjects exhibiting elevated temperatures compared to the normal population. This allows security staff to validate internal temperatures and discreetly examine the subject for additional symptoms. If necessary, the software can automatically capture IR image snapshots when an alarm is triggered. Thermal images with temperature measurements are stored whenever the temperature exceeds the preset threshold, ensuring thorough documentation and traceability.
The entire system, which includes the infrared camera and its comprehensive software package, is designed for easy installation. It can be quickly relocated and set up in new locations, ensuring flexibility and adaptability. Additionally, the system features password protection to prevent unauthorized modifications, ensuring the integrity and reliability of the fever screening process.
Comprehensive Support and Customization for Reliable and Accurate Infrared Fever Screening
Choosing Optris for fever screening solutions brings numerous benefits rooted in the company’s commitment to innovation and quality. Optris is renowned for its expertise in infrared measurement technology, providing reliable and accurate tools for various applications. The PI infrared camera and its supporting software exemplify this excellence, offering precise and efficient fever detection critical in today’s health-conscious environment.
One of the standout features of Optris products is their ease of installation and operation, enabling rapid deployment in diverse settings. The systems are designed to be user-friendly, with intuitive software that facilitates seamless integration into existing workflows. Optris offers robust support and customization options, ensuring that their solutions meet specific customer needs. The high accuracy of Optris systems, bolstered by the BR 20AR ambient reference source, guarantees reliable temperature readings, which are essential for effective fever screening. Additionally, the company’s reputation for producing durable and high-quality equipment ensures long-term reliability and minimal maintenance. With Optris, customers can trust in a proven technology that not only enhances safety but also boosts operational efficiency through innovative and dependable infrared measurement solutions. Moreover, Optris’ products are backed by comprehensive customer support and training resources, ensuring that users can maximize the potential of their fever screening systems. The ability to customize alarm thresholds and integrate them with existing security systems makes Optris an adaptable and versatile choice for various environments, from corporate offices to public venues, reinforcing their commitment to public health and safety.
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Talk to us about your IR Temperature Measurement Requirements
There are over 300 different pyrometer variants to choose from in the Optris infrared pyrometer portfolio each optimized for material, spot size, distance from the target, and environmental conditions. Fortunately, there is a trained engineer to phone or chat with to guide you through the process of choosing the perfect infrared sensor for your application.
The same support is available for the extensive IR camera product line.
