Many South African businesses are turning to COVID-19 fever detection technology to help keep their workforce safe and reduce the spread of the virus among their staff.

Clients and customers asking for thermal cameras and non-contact infrared thermometers need access to the best, most effective temperature detection technology available to them.

Various thermal and infrared temperature detection devices are available to the South African market. However, some are considered more accurate than others.

Fever detection vs COVID-19 detection

Thermal technology can be helpful for initial temperature assessment of people in high-traffic areas where individual screening is not possible. But while they can detect fevers, that can’t detect the virus itself.

According to Professor Cheryl Cohen from the National Institute of Communicable Diseases of South Africa, thermal scanners are most commonly used at a country’s port of entry to detect people who have a fever. When the scanner spots that a person has an elevated temperature, the individual has to be screened for COVID-19.

Thermal scanners are a useful part of our way of protecting ourselves against coronavirus, Prof. Cohen explains in this video. What is very important to understand, though, is that they are not at all a 100% effective. This is because not all people with COVID-19 have fever.

That is why employers who want to help reduce the spread of the virus among their staff must follow guidelines and best practices to protect their employees. Find more information on the COVID-19 South African Online Portal and advice from the World Health Organization.

What is the best thermal technology to detect COVID-19 fever?

Thermal technology to detect fever and help identify employees that should be screened for COVID-19 is available in different forms, including:

• Thermal imaging systems
• Non-contact infrared thermometers

Thermal imaging systems

According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), thermal imaging systems generally have been shown to accurately measure an individual’s surface skin temperature without being physically close to the person being evaluated, when these devices are used correctly.

The orgranization notes that telethermographic systems intended for adjunctive diagnostic screening will not create unnecessary risk when they meet a certain set of criteria, including performance requirements.

Some of these requirements include that:

• the devices laboratory temperature accuracy, including the measurement uncertainty, is less than or equal to ±0.5°C over a temperature range of at least 34-39°C
• the system includes an accurate blackbody temperature reference source.

Non-contact infrared thermometers

Non-contact thermometers are aimed at a person’s forehead, generally around 3 to 15 cm away from the individual.

These devices work optimally when users follow the manufacturer’s guidelines and instructions very closely. Read more on the proper use of these devices here>>.

Five COVID-19 fever detection technologies from Eurobyte

1. Infiray AT300 Thermal Imager

This temperature measurement camera uses a patented intelligent compensated temperature measurement algorithm to provide an accuracy of ±0.3 when the target’s temperature is between 33 and 42.

It operates in temperatures from -10 to 60 degrees unlike infrared handhelds which generally operates from ±10℃ upwards. This device is ideal for high-traffic volume areas where several people need to be scanned in quick succession.

The AT300 transmits temperature data in real-time, offers autofocus and can easily be installed in small spaces.

Get it here>>

2. Infiray C200H Handheld Fever Detection Device

This fast, non-contact fever screening device can measure temperature with ±0.5 accuracy from a one-meter distance. It can be used for hand-held patrolling or as a thermal camera on a fixed tripod.

The C200H takes automatic snapshots if it spots a fever and includes a PC analysis tool for detailed examination. This hand-held thermal camera is also considered more affordable than devices with the same specifications.

Order this item here>>

3. Infiray ITS II 300 Thermal Imaging Temperature Screening System

This system consists of a thermal camera, blackbody with a tripod and AI computing server to measure body temperature at a distance of five to 10 meters with a ±0.3 accuracy.

The Infiray ITS II 300 offers a dual lens, which takes both a thermal image and photographic image, which it stores it in a database.

Features include:

• Real-time measurement with a response time of <0.5 seconds.
• Intelligent body temperature correction, face recognition and auto-face tracking
• Network and cloud storage

Read more here>>

4.Uniview Face Recognition Access Control and Wrist Temperature Detection Module

Uniview’s OET-213H-BTS1 terminal is both an access control device and a non-contact temperature detector. It can either be mounted to a wall of a floor stand. Under the right conditions, it can measure a person’s temperature at an accuracy of 0.1℃ with a measurement deviation of 0.3.

Its deep learning algorithm model offers facial recognition at an accuracy rate of >99% and a false rate of <1%. It also supports face, card, password and QR code authentication to control door opening. It is also considered more affordable than similar modules available locally.

Get it here>>

5. Uniview Digital Forehead Temp Measurement Terminal

This non-contact temperature detection device supports rapid body temperature detection. When used correctly, it offers an accuracy of up to 0.1 and a measurement deviation of 0.3 at a distance of about one meter.

It features two-way audio with an indoor monitor as well as video capture with its WDR, 2MP (1080P) low illumination wide-angle camera.

Order it here>>

Register to order

Eurobyte provides its registered dealers with product knowledge, technical, sales and solution support, and ensures its customers are fully equipped to market and sell its products.

Ready to become a dealer? Register here.

Want to purchase this equipment as a private individual? Contact the Eurobyte team to find your nearest reseller.

Learn how heat tracking equipment works in our article How to scan a crowd for fever? Infrared thermography technology is the answer.