Measurement duration
The time it takes for a thermometer to provide a temperature reading, from contact or activating the IR sensor to obtaining the result, is crucial for efficiency. Quick measurements save time during temperature checks. However, it's important to mention that for axillary use (see "Application area"), it's advised to keep the thermometer in place for a minimum of 5 minutes, irrespective of the manufacturer's specified measurement time, due to the nature of the procedure.
Measurement range
The range of temperatures that a thermometer can measure.
For measuring body temperature, a range of 35 – 43 °C is considered ample, covering values encountered in individuals with high fever or hypothermia. Although modern medical thermometers may have broader ranges, especially those designed for water and air temperature measurement (e.g., -20 – 100 °C), when used for body temperature, they typically operate within a narrower range. The overall and "solid" measurement ranges are often specified separately in these thermometers.
Measurement accuracy
The extent to which a device deviates from the actual temperature during measurements determines its accuracy. Even the least accurate electronic medical thermometers today have a maximum deviation of 0.3 °C, sufficient for everyday and basic medical use. Common models offer even higher accuracy, with deviations as low as
0.1 °C or
0.2 °C, making the pursuit of maximum accuracy necessary only in specific scenarios.
Reading memory
The number of results the thermometer can store in memory. The ability to
"remember" the results of previous measurements can be very convenient in some cases — in particular, it allows you to accurately track changes in temperature over time. The most advanced models are capable of storing several dozen readings in memory.
