Customer Reviews

Mercury Free Oral Thermometer

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

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.

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

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.

After becoming disappointed with many digital thermometers, I set out to find a good old fashioned mercury thermometer. The problem is you can't really get a hold of mercury thermometers any more, so I found this alternative. I was hesitant based on the 3/5 star average, but am happy I went with this. I bought 2, just to check them and compare.

Pros:
- Reliable
- Non-electric (No having to track down batteries when you need it)
- Simple (shake down, take temp, done)
- Low cost

Cons:
- Slightly difficult to read (have to twist to get right angle)
- Large compared to old oral mercury thermometers, would be tougher on kids

I am actually fairly happy with it (considering how hard it is to find good oral manual thermometers now). Despite the couple of negatives listed above, I would still recommend it. But as other posters have mentioned, make sure to compare it to another thermometer before relying solely on it to ensure that there weren't any manufacturing problems, and that it reads correctly.

And just a hint, if you're having a tough time reading it, tilt the angle a little bit. The long blue line will have a shorter silvery line on it where the temperature reads. The blue line extends the whole length of the thermometer, and is not the temp indicator.

I love this thermometer, durable and very accurate just like the old mercury but without the danger. You don't need an expensive digital theremometer for accurate temps...this one is better and quieter!

I purchased this thermometer because it was advertised as mercury free & the price was right. I like the accuracy & consistency of the glass & mercury (hg) ones, and I thought this would be a better option for safety reasons, since we have 3 young children. Right now, I am happy we did! Just this evening, my daughter got ahold of it and tried to imitate me shaking it--right up against the kitchen counter! (Kids get their hands on things--that's why we don't own a gun!)
Glass and (whatever the faux mercury is) went everywhere on our hardwood floors! When the silver stuff lands, it tends to stay in little splashy puddles. **Tip: Do yourself a favor, and pinch it up rather than wipe it--it will smear if you do this, and although it will come up after being smeared, it's a bit harder to clean up once it dries. It's sort of like gold leaf that you use with crafts when smeared.
Is the temperature right on the money? Who knows--At this very moment, I'm not worried that my children have mercury poisoning!
If you're not sick, take your temperature. If it reads 98.6 or whatever your healthy temperature may be (some people vary)then it works. If it reads a couple of degrees higher, then make the adjustment when you use it--like you would if you took your childs temp under the arm. Mine was extremely accurate--while it lasted!

Walmart sells this for a buck and a half and even at that price it's a rip off. As noted by another reviewer, the "marker" is stuck at the top of the range and has resisted all efforts to bring it down to room temperature. I've even placed it in the refrigerator to no avail. Even if it worked it's uncomfortable to keep in the mouth as it always feels like it's slipping out, hence you tend to grab it with your teeth which is probably not a good thing.

It's now almost impossible to find a standard glass mercury thermometer as an alternative to the junk currently in the marketplace. I know mercury is poisonous, but I also know that generations of families used oral mercury thermometers and I don't remember an epidemic of broken ones poisoning the population or polluting the environment. I would contend more environmental damage is caused by the production of digital thermometers than all the standard models ever produced. Most of us have or have had "silver fillings" which are infused with mercury. No one dies of this type of stuff with any more frequency than the rare household products poisoning. Society needs to be more responsible and willing to accept some miniscule risk in order to keep proven products in the market place otherwise we're going to be continually inundated with useless pieces of junk being pawned off on the public at inflated prices.

1. It's supposed to be oral? Then why is the shaft of the thermometer so short? You'll be lucky if it reaches your frenulum.
2. It's hard to shake it down so that it goes below 98.6. We were never able to achieve this: is that because the thermometer is filled with a mercury substitute?
3. We used it for weeks before we accidentally figured out how to get the casing off.

This thermometer is a modern version of the old mercury-filled oral thermometers. No batteries required, internally consistent, and easy to use. The thermometer is scaled in Fahrenheit on top and Celsius on bottom. My only complaint with this product is that the thermometer widens about one inch past the bulb which can make it a little bit difficult to grip with your lips and teeth. Thermometer fits securely in the included carrying case.

You can use this thing the right way and it will not give you an accurate reading.
You can stick this in your mouth for minutes on end and it will not be accurate.
It is cheap and a step backwards from the mercury thermometer. I have checked this thermometer (I checked two. Returned the first one and bought a second one and guess what, the second was off by more!) against an expensive reference and it has come up short of my real temperature by as much as 1.5 degrees. I don't know about you, but I want to be exact and know I have a fever. Would you trust your child's health to a cheap, inaccurate thermometer?
I know I wouldn't. Save your money and get a more expensive thermometer that is accurate.