Jul 26 2016
PositiveID Corporation (“PositiveID” or “Company”), a life sciences company focused on detection and diagnostics, announced today its FDA-cleared Caregiver® non-contact thermometer outperformed a temporal artery thermometer in every category evaluated during a Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System study of Post Anesthesia Care Unit (“PACU”) patients.
In the evidence-based study of 40 patients, PACU nurses evaluated the Caregiver thermometer and a temporal artery thermometer within the following categories: ease-of-use, speed, reliability, patient comfort, ease of care, and overall performance. In every category studied, the Caregiver no-touch thermometer outperformed the temporal artery thermometer.
The goals of the study, To Touch or Not to Touch? That is the Question; Using the Evidence to Change Thermometry Practice, were to determine if a temporal artery thermometer and the Caregiver non-contact thermometer compare favorably to an oral thermometer, and allow PACU nurses to determine their thermometer preference and recommend a practice change. In the study, patients had their temperature recorded using an oral electronic thermometer, a tympanic and temporal artery thermometer, and the Caregiver no-touch forehead thermometer. While the tympanic and temporal artery thermometer and Caregiver were all found to be clinically acceptable, the PACU staff unanimously agreed to move forward with the Caregiver thermometer due to ease of use.
“We routinely receive positive feedback from healthcare practitioners who use our Caregiver thermometer for its accuracy, reliability and ease of use,” stated William J. Caragol, Chairman and CEO of PositiveID. “We are very pleased with the results of this evidence-based study, which, we believe not only further substantiate the value proposition of Caregiver with hard data, but also highlight the benefits of using Caregiver particularly in certain patient populations.”
Caregiver, which is FDA-cleared for clinical use, utilizes infrared technology for measurement of forehead temperature in adults, children, and infants without contact. The Caregiver thermometer has documented clinical precision and is capable of high-volume use. The device meets all ASTM specifications for use in a clinical setting.
The authors of the Evidence-Based Practice Institute study were John Shurilla-Finnigan, RN, BSN, and Mary Beth Tucker, APRN, CCNS of the VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA. This material is the result of work supported with the resources and the use of facilities at the VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA. The contents do not represent the views of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or the United States Government.
The study summary may be found at www.thermomedics.com/clinical-studies/.