Article: Screening for fever by remote-sensing infrared thermographic camera

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TitleScreening for fever by remote-sensing infrared thermographic camera
AuthorsChan, LS1
Cheung, GTY1
Lauder, IJ1
Kumana, CR1
Issue Date2004
PublisherWiley-Blackwell Publishing, Inc. The Journal's web site is located at http://www.wiley.com/bw/journal.asp?ref=1195-1982
CitationJournal Of Travel Medicine, 2004, v. 11 n. 5, p. 273-279 [How to Cite?]
AbstractBackground: Following the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak, remote-sensing infrared thermography (IRT) has been advocated as a possible means of screening for fever in travelers at airports and border crossings, but its applicability has not been established. We therefore set out to evaluate (1) the feasibility of IRT imaging to identify subjects with fever, and (2) the optimal instrumental configuration and validity for such testing. Methods: Over a 20-day inclusive period, 176 subjects (49 hospital inpatients without SARS or suspected SARS, 99 health clinic attendees and 28 healthy volunteers) were recruited. Remotely sensed IRT readings were obtained from various parts of the front and side of the face (at distances of 1.5 and 0.5 m), and compared to concurrently determined body temperature measurements using conventional means (aural tympanic IRT and oral mercury thermometry). The resulting data were submitted to linear regression/correlation and sensitivity analyses. All recruits gave prior informed consent and our Faculty Institutional Review Board approved the protocol. Results: Optimal correlations were found between conventionally measured body temperatures and IRT readings from (1) the front of the face at 1.5 m with the mouth open (r = 0.80), (2) the ear at 0.5 m (r = 0.79), and (3) the side of the face at 1.5 m (r = 0.76). Average IRT readings from the forehead and elsewhere were 1°C to 2°C lower and correlated less well. Ear IRT readings at 0.5 m yielded the narrowest confidence intervals and could be used to predict conventional body temperature readings of ≥ 38°C with a sensitivity and specificity of 83% and 88% respectively. Conclusions: IRT readings from the side of the face, especially from the ear at 0.5 m, yielded the most reliable, precise and consistent estimates of conventionally determined body temperatures. Our results have important implications for walk-through IRT scanning/screening systems at airports and border crossings, particularly as the point prevalence of fever in such subjects would be very low.
ISSN1195-1982
2011 Impact Factor: 1.748
2011 SCImago Journal Rankings: 0.136
ReferencesReferences in Scopus
DC Field
Value
dc.contributor.authorChan, LS
dc.contributor.authorCheung, GTY
dc.contributor.authorLauder, IJ
dc.contributor.authorKumana, CR
dc.date.accessioned2012-06-26T06:20:58Z
dc.date.available2012-06-26T06:20:58Z
dc.date.issued2004
dc.description.abstractBackground: Following the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak, remote-sensing infrared thermography (IRT) has been advocated as a possible means of screening for fever in travelers at airports and border crossings, but its applicability has not been established. We therefore set out to evaluate (1) the feasibility of IRT imaging to identify subjects with fever, and (2) the optimal instrumental configuration and validity for such testing. Methods: Over a 20-day inclusive period, 176 subjects (49 hospital inpatients without SARS or suspected SARS, 99 health clinic attendees and 28 healthy volunteers) were recruited. Remotely sensed IRT readings were obtained from various parts of the front and side of the face (at distances of 1.5 and 0.5 m), and compared to concurrently determined body temperature measurements using conventional means (aural tympanic IRT and oral mercury thermometry). The resulting data were submitted to linear regression/correlation and sensitivity analyses. All recruits gave prior informed consent and our Faculty Institutional Review Board approved the protocol. Results: Optimal correlations were found between conventionally measured body temperatures and IRT readings from (1) the front of the face at 1.5 m with the mouth open (r = 0.80), (2) the ear at 0.5 m (r = 0.79), and (3) the side of the face at 1.5 m (r = 0.76). Average IRT readings from the forehead and elsewhere were 1°C to 2°C lower and correlated less well. Ear IRT readings at 0.5 m yielded the narrowest confidence intervals and could be used to predict conventional body temperature readings of ≥ 38°C with a sensitivity and specificity of 83% and 88% respectively. Conclusions: IRT readings from the side of the face, especially from the ear at 0.5 m, yielded the most reliable, precise and consistent estimates of conventionally determined body temperatures. Our results have important implications for walk-through IRT scanning/screening systems at airports and border crossings, particularly as the point prevalence of fever in such subjects would be very low.
dc.description.natureLink_to_subscribed_fulltext
dc.identifier.citationJournal Of Travel Medicine, 2004, v. 11 n. 5, p. 273-279 [How to Cite?]
dc.identifier.epage279
dc.identifier.hkuros102787
dc.identifier.isiWOS:000224181400002
dc.identifier.issn1195-1982
2011 Impact Factor: 1.748
2011 SCImago Journal Rankings: 0.136
dc.identifier.issue5
dc.identifier.pmid15544710
dc.identifier.scopuseid_2-s2.0-8344256467
dc.identifier.spage273
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10722/151351
dc.identifier.volume11
dc.languageeng
dc.publisherWiley-Blackwell Publishing, Inc. The Journal's web site is located at http://www.wiley.com/bw/journal.asp?ref=1195-1982
dc.publisher.placeUnited States
dc.relation.ispartofJournal of Travel Medicine
dc.relation.referencesReferences in Scopus
dc.subject.meshAdolescent
dc.subject.meshAdult
dc.subject.meshAerospace Medicine
dc.subject.meshAged
dc.subject.meshAged, 80 And Over
dc.subject.meshChild
dc.subject.meshChild, Preschool
dc.subject.meshEar
dc.subject.meshFeasibility Studies
dc.subject.meshFemale
dc.subject.meshFever - Diagnosis
dc.subject.meshHong Kong
dc.subject.meshHumans
dc.subject.meshInfant
dc.subject.meshLinear Models
dc.subject.meshMale
dc.subject.meshMass Screening - Methods
dc.subject.meshMiddle Aged
dc.subject.meshReproducibility Of Results
dc.subject.meshSensitivity And Specificity
dc.subject.meshThermography
dc.subject.meshTravel
dc.titleScreening for fever by remote-sensing infrared thermographic camera
dc.typeArticle
Author Affiliations
  1. The University of Hong Kong