Mercury Free Oral Thermometer

by R G MEDICAL

Product Description

Traditional shake down glass analog thermometer is non-toxic and mercury free. Fehrenheit and Celsius.

Product Details

• Item Weight: 1.1 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• ASIN: B0006GBEKS
• Average Customer Review: 2.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #16,180 in Health & Personal Care (See Top 100 in Health & Personal Care)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Mine was not accurate, October 23, 2008

By 

Concerned Consumer - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mercury Free Oral Thermometer (Health and Beauty)

This is a duplicate review, as this device is listed in a couple of places on Amazon. I had high hopes for this thermometer, after reading a medical article comparing it with standard mercury (Hg) thermometers in a clinical trial. All the accuracy, but without the significant health risks if it breaks. Well, I still have an "old fashioned" Hg thermometer, in addition to an electronic probe and an ear device from a major manufacturer (for the home, not professional market).

When I purchased this, I compared it to the Hg thermometer, since I have one and I was curious about the new Hg substitute. First, I put them both under my tongue simultaneously. This one read about 2 degrees lower than the Hg standard. I thought that its larger size might have allowed air to get by my lips & cool it. I then did two back-to-back measurements; Geratherm, Hg; Geratherm, Hg. Four minutes each, all at rest, one immediately after the other, and always placing them in the same location. Both devices were "internally" consistent - that is the Hg gave the same temp both times, sequentially, as did the Geratherm. So far, so good. Consistency is necessary in a measuring instrument. HOWEVER, on both occasions the Geratherm now measured a full two (2) degrees HIGHER than the Hg! NOT good! I then checked my temp using the oral electronic probe; it was 0.2 degrees off from the Hg. I then used the ear probe (both ears) and surprisingly it, too, was actually very close to the Hg (0.2 degrees difference between the 2 ears; average 0.3 degrees off from Hg, just a bit lower otic (ear) than oral).

For this reason, I'm returning it, and I'm going to try another one. I suspect that it's a manufacturing defect explained by the construction of this thermometer - it's a glass tube within a second glass housing, and there's a paper scale behind the capillary tube containing the liquid. If that paper is not placed properly, the reading will be "off." The device's consistency suggests that the liquid expanded properly & consistently in response to my temp. My old Hg thermometer has the typical printing on the glass. Sure, that could be off, but those devices have been standardized over decades. And the good correlation with other devices (particularly the electronic probe, which I've calibrated against known standards - freezing & boiling water, & it's accurate) suggests that my old thermometer is the correct one.

Other comments - I didn't find it particularly worse than the old standard to "shake down;" each took the same # of shakes to return to baseline. If one does have arthritis, neither this nor a mercury thermometer are easy to use, and you're probably best off with a high rated electronic probe. Also, the outer glass housing is much larger (about 3X) the size of the Hg thermometer, which made it a little more cumbersome to hold under the tongue, but not impossible. Because of its size, I don't think it would be particularly good for a child under about age 7-8.

Hope this helps other users. I am concerned about this, especially as a medical professional, because not everyone has a mercury thermometer to compare against. This 2 degree difference could mean a LOT if you're using this in a "sick" situation (e.g. deciding if your older child can go to school or not). I plan on contacting the manufacturer about this.

46 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thrilled with this, March 26, 2005

By 

T. Reinhardt "olivia lee" (east coast) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mercury Free Oral Thermometer (Health and Beauty)

After years of buying digital thermometers that sometimes worked and sometimes didnt I got sick of wasting my money on them. I went looking for a non-digital and found this one. It looks like the old fashioned mercury thermometers altho it is a bit wider and a tiny bit awkward to keep in your mouth. HOWEVER... despite this I wouldnt go back. It is very accurate and unlike a digital if I use it and get a temp..and than immediately do it again, i will get the same temp. Unlike the digitals which had wildly different temps...

I also want to say my son broke one on a ceramic bathroom floor and I was a bit nervous about how I would clean it up. The silver doesnt *ball* up like mercury...it kind of spreads out and sticks. Almost looking like I had silver plated the tile. I checked the makers website and looked for an MSDS on toxicity and cleaning. I am happy to say they were exactly right, it cleaned up well with a liquid cleanser (a spray) ... with a dry towel or just water it just spread around but with a spray cleanser it came right up.

I would really reccomend this despite having to figure out the cleaning issues...I just havent found the digitals to be reliable and this is the best option I found

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Look, Ma, no batteries! In LOVE with this Thermometer!, September 20, 2007

By 

M. Rousseau (Heartland, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mercury Free Oral Thermometer (Health and Beauty)

We've bought just about every brand of digital thermometers out there. The last one we bought worked for 1 week, and now won't even register ANY temp! The digital ones read something different every time, and are often out of batteries... or display "Err".

I REALLY needed a reliable way to track a fever. I went and got this, and have not been disappointed! It reads consistently (tested by shaking down and taking temp. consecutively) and it's battery never dies!

Word of Warning: Most people are not used to shaking down glass thermometers. It is a skill that relies on a strong "flick" of the wrist. People with wrist problems may find it difficult, if not impossible to get it to shake down appropriately. (I don't have those problems, and after 2 days of monitoring my temp, my wrist is a bit sore) I couldn't imagine a child under 13 or so actually getting this to reset. The thermometer is easiest to shake down when the green cap is left on the end (it gives you help holding onto it). In addition, it may help protect the glass if it gets dropped.
Also important to note is that this "new" type of glass thermometer is MUCH wider and heavier than the old mercury ones. It may not fit a child's mouth right. We don't have this problem (yet!), but I could see it being a problem.

For adults, or children under supervision, I would heartily recommend this thermometer.