The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday issued a warning about the thermal imaging systems used to measure body temperature during the pandemic.
Scanners, also known as thermal cameras and “fever cameras,” are commonly used in the lobbies of workplaces, schools, and businesses as a quick, non-contact way to check body temperature.
However, according to officials, the scanners may provide inaccurate readings and the FDA has issued several warning letters to some companies that sell “unapproved, unauthorized and unauthorized” thermal imaging systems, including Certify Global Inc. , Kogniz Inc., Opgal Optronic Industries Ltd and Thermavis.
The scanner, which looks like a smartphone, reads the surface temperature of a person’s skin in a matter of seconds as it approaches. If a person’s temperature is 100.4 degrees or higher, it is considered symptomatic.
When the device is designed and used properly, it can be accurate, the FDA said. But even some authorized systems have produced inaccurate readings, which can be harmful if someone with a fever is not alerted.
“These risks are more likely to be present when thermal imaging systems analyze multiple people simultaneously,” the FDA said.
The FDA will work to provide information about scanners to users and encourages people to continue wearing face masks, distance themselves socially, and maintain hand hygiene. Stay home if you feel unwell and think about taking the temperature with a thermometer before you leave home.