Getting Back to Business: Thermal Screening

Security solutions have played a huge part in helping to spread the Coronavirus. From adopting touchless access control measures to employing video analytics to support social distancing and mask detection, facilities of all kinds have been seeking solutions to help protect their employees and customers. Thermal screening has taken on a lot of traction over the course of the pandemic. Thermal imaging systems and non-contact infrared thermometers, which are non-contact temperature assessment devices, can used to measure a person's temperature. An elevated temperature is one way to identify a person who may have a COVID-19 infection. Many facilities have turned to non-contact temperature assessment devices as part of an initial check at entry points to identify and triage people who may have elevated temperatures. The use of "no-touch" or non-contact temperature assessment devices, such as thermal imaging systems or non-contact infrared thermometers has helped many facilities navigate the reopening phase safely. These devices have many benefits beyond simply measuring body temperature. They can measure and display a temperature reading very quickly, allowing for a large number of people to be evaluated individually at an entry point. And, these non-contact infrared thermometers only require a minimal amount of sanitizing between uses. NextGen has helped many clients prepare for a safe re-opening amidst the pandemic. We are your trusted source for your physical security and life safety needs. We’re happy to provide below educational information from the FDA on Thermal Imaging Systems and look forward assisting you in a safe re-opening.

Thermal Imaging Systems and COVID-19

“When used correctly, thermal imaging systems generally have been shown to accurately measure someone’s surface skin temperature without being physically close to the person being evaluated. Thermal imaging systems offer certain benefits in that other methods need a closer proximity or contact to measure temperature (for example, non-contact infrared thermometers or oral thermometers). Temperature-based screening, such as thermal imaging, is not effective at determining if someone definitively has COVID-19 because, among other things, a person with COVID-19 may not have a fever. A diagnostic test must be performed to determine if someone has COVID-19. Thermal imaging systems have not been shown to be accurate when used to take the temperature of multiple people at the same time. The accuracy of these systems depends on careful set-up and operation, as well as proper preparation of the person being evaluated. Thermal imaging systems have been used by several countries during epidemics, although information about their effectiveness as part of efforts to reduce the spread of disease has been mixed. The FDA issued the Enforcement Policy for Telethermographic Systems During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Public Health Emergency guidance to help expand the availability of thermal imaging systems and mitigate thermometer shortages during the public health emergency. The guidance sets forth an enforcement policy that is intended to apply to all thermal imaging systems that are intended for medical purposes for the duration of the public health emergency related to COVID-19, and provides recommendations regarding performance and labeling of such systems.”