Exergen Temporal Artery Thermometer MODEL# TAT-2000C
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Customer Reviews of Exergen Temporal Artery Thermometer MODEL# TAT-2000C
Customer Review: Not consistent, and so it is useless.
Summary: 1 Stars
I bought the Exergen based on the rave reviews here. I'll give the manufacturer the benefit of the doubt here and suggest that maybe I got a bum unit, but I doubt it. It seemed to function OK, but it didn't even begin to live up to my expectations.
I read the instructions carefully, and even looked up other tips as to how to use it properly on the web. The best readings I got were when I placed it on the forehead over one eye, dragged it slowly over to above the other eye, continuing over and down to the temple, then straight down the side of the face, stopping in front of the ear, with the whole process taking maybe 5 seconds. Whatever you do, don't press the button until the unit is in full skin contact, and you should release the button before removing the unit from skin contact.
That was maybe the 10th process I used and it was the most consistent, maybe +/- 1 degree F or so. Even so, every 3rd reading or so I'd get a +/- 2 F outlier, and so couldn't really trust it without some statistical evidence, hence the need for 5 or so readings to get any kind of feel for the real temp. Sorry, that's not good enough for me. Good try though.
Beyond the problems I experience with accuracy, the unit could be improved in other ways. The angle of the head is crazy, and prevents you from ever knowing if it is positioned squarely on the skin. Exergen, please remove the angle from the head! The erratic beeps given off during measurement are confusing, and after using it maybe 300 times I still have no idea what they were trying to tell me - and I'm no technophobe (not by a long shot). Finally, the activation button is too rubbery, and too prone to accidental release, and this combined with the cryptic beeping makes for a very frustrating user experience.
I ended up giving my unit away to a friend who has kids. He's almost got his PhD, so maybe he can figure out how to get accurate results from it. I'd recommend you avoid this and give the Thermofocus a try. I haven't actually tried that unit, but at least it doesn't require skin contact, and it's hard to believe it could be any worse than the Exergen.
Customer Review: Not consistent = useless!
Summary: 1 Stars
I bought the Exergen based on the rave reviews here. I'll give the manufacturer the benefit of the doubt here and suggest that maybe I got a bum unit, but I doubt it. It seemed to function OK, but it didn't even begin to live up to my expectations.
I read the instructions carefully, and even looked up other tips as to how to use it properly on the web. The best readings I got were when I placed it on the forehead over one eye, dragged it slowly over to above the other eye, continuing over and down to the temple, then straight down the side of the face, stopping in front of the ear, with the whole process taking maybe 5 seconds. Whatever you do, don't press the button until the unit is in full skin contact, and you should release the button before removing the unit from skin contact.
That was maybe the 10th process I used and it was the most consistent, maybe +/- 1 degree F or so. Even so, every 3rd reading or so I'd get a +/- 2 F outlier, and so couldn't really trust it without some statistical evidence, hence the need for 5 or so readings to get any kind of feel for the real temp. Sorry, that's not good enough for me. Good try though.
Beyond the problems I experience with accuracy, the unit could be improved in other ways. The angle of the head is crazy, and prevents you from ever knowing if it is positioned squarely on the skin. Exergen, please remove the angle from the head! The erratic beeps given off during measurement are confusing, and after using it maybe 300 times I still had no idea what they were trying to tell me - and I'm no technophobe (not by a long shot). Finally, the activation button is too rubbery, and too prone to accidental release, and this combined with the cryptic beeping makes for a very frustrating user experience.
I ended up giving my unit away to a friend who has kids. He's almost has his PhD, so maybe he can figure out how to get accurate results from it. I'd recommend you avoid this and give the Thermofocus a try. I haven't actually tried that unit, but at least it doesn't require skin contact, and it's hard to believe it could be any worse than the Exergen.
Customer Review: This thermometer is every parent's dream for peace of mind
Summary: 5 Stars
I've read all the 1 star reviews and all I can think is that Exergen must be inconsistent in their production or we're talking user error. I've owned this thermometer for many years (the same original one) and it has been remarkably consistent and very accurate. For the first few dozen times we were very concerned so we double checked the readings against a digital standard thermometer. Each time the Exergen was within a degree of the standard thermometer. I cannot emphasize enough that this unit makes a parent's life SO much easier. You can take the temp of a child who is sleeping - a peace of mind all parents need when their child is ill. I have three children under 9 and this unit has been used exclusively hundreds of times on vacations and at home. I think we've replaced the battery once. It did give some irregular readings when the battery was failing, but there's a simple "reality check" you can make with this unit. My advice: simply "scan" the air and read the ambient air temperature. If it's a realistic room temperature reading, it is likely working fine. If not, turn it off and try again. Use common sense when assessing how ill your child is and consult a physician if you are in doubt.
I am purchasing this as a gift for my sister and her new infant. I was pleasantly surprised to see my pediatrician's office began using these over a year ago (probably the busiest office in Orange County, CA). I think that's proof of this thermometer's accuracy and practicality.
Another angle: We did use the Braun ear-scan type for the first few years we had children, but the chances of an accurate reading were SO impossible to predict and the angle of your child's ear canal and your accuracy in placement was simply too great a risk for us. The Exergen is simply more accurate and easier to use in our opinion.
Customer Review: FINALLY, A GOOD THERMOMETER!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought the EXERGEN temporal artery thermometer through amazon when it first became available to the public (they used to only make them for doctor's offices), and upon reading studies done by major universities (such as John Hopkins) we decided to give it a try.
BELIEVE ME - IT IS BY FAR THE BEST THERMOMETER I'VE EVER OWNED OR COME ACROSS!
At the time I purchased this it cost $60 and was well worth it. My daughter was an infant at the time and had problems with recurring ear infections and running very high fevers. Not only were the ear thermometers never accurate, but they caused her a lot of discomfort or pain as well. Taking a rectal temperature is known to be the most accurate, but who's really going to do that unless you're dealing with an infant (and even then it's not exactly pleasant)? Because this thermometer made claims of being as accurate as a rectal, we put it to the test. The temperature was always EXACTLY the same as using an old fashioned mercury thermometer.
My daughter is now 4 and her health conditions have not improved (still running fevers as high as 107.8). She will be undergoing an adenoidectomy in a few weeks to hopefully eliminate her symptoms, however, I still recommend that every household have an accurate and dependable thermometer, and THIS IS IT!!!! A high fever is no joke (brain damage can start around 107 degrees), and at least I know when I speak to her doctors that I am giving them an accurate temperature reading (whether she's asleep or awake) with no discomfort or agitation to her. Thank you Exergen for helping to keep my family safe!
Customer Review: Easy to use!
Summary: 5 Stars
This is accurate and easy to use....I don't know why there are any negatives on this...But, as far as accuracy goes its pretty much on the money. On 2 seperate occasions I have taken it to the doctors office and taken the temperature after the nurse. The first time it was on the money same as the nurses reading and the second time it was (.1) degree off. The nurses showed 99.8 and this device showed 99.7---I don't know about you but .1 degree off is pretty darn accurate to me and the nurse agreed as well. If U are getting inaccurate readings or the sweating issue---try taking it with u when you go to the doctor. The nurses are great with these things because they use them all the time. Also, be sure to READ the instructions and the entire manual carefully. I read mine twice just be sure I complete understood how it works. Also, you cannot compare an armpit reading to a forehead reading---it's not going to be the same temperature I don't care what type of device you are using. Boby temperatures will vary based on the location of area you are taking the temperature per my pediatrician. He also gave me a copy of a chart for normal temperature readings based on age and the location of where the temperature is taken. So, if you take a armpit temp., mouth temp., or forehead temp.---the temps. will vary some based on where you take the temperature...this is a proven medical fact. So, far I'm totally satified with this product and I've owned it almost a year...I have 7 month old and 3 year old and the beeping is not an issue with them. Love it and will buy another one even if this one goes bad.