Proceedings Article | 9 March 2010
KEYWORDS: Temperature metrology, Thermography, Skin, Standards development, Infrared radiation, Synthetic aperture radar, Cameras, Infrared detectors, Pathogens, Eye
The threat of a virulent strain of influenza, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), tuberculosis, H1N1/A virus
(swine flu) and possible mutations are a constant threat to global health. Implementation of pandemic infrared
thermographic screening is based on the detection of febrile temperatures (inner canthus of the eyes) that are correlated
with an infectious disease. Previous attempts at pandemic thermal screening have experienced problems (e.g. SARS
outbreak, Singapore 2003) associated with the deployment plan, implementation and operation of the screening
thermograph. Since this outbreak, the International Electrotechnical Commission has developed international standards
that set minimum requirements for thermographic system fever screening and procedures that insure reliable and
reproducible measurements. These requirements are published in IEC 80601-2-59:2008, Medical electrical equipment
- Part 2-59: Particular requirements for the basic safety and essential performance of screening thermographs for
human febrile temperature screening. The International Organization for Standardization has developed
ISO/TR 13154:2009, Medical Electrical Equipment - which provides deployment, implementation and operational
guidelines for identifying febrile humans using a screening thermograph. These new standards includes
recommendations for camera calibrations, use of black body radiators, view field, focus, pixels within measurement site,
image positioning, and deployment locations. Many current uses of thermographic screening at airports do not take into
account critical issues addressed in the new standard, and are operating below the necessary effectiveness and efficiency.
These documents, related thermal research, implications for epidemiology screening, and the future impact on medical
thermography are discussed.
