Thomson Thermo D2 electronic thermometer test: color fever reading

family thermometer

In curves, the Thomson Thermo D2 dares a bit to stray from the somewhat cool side of most medical devices that are often content with shades of white and grey. This reminds us, however, that it is not a professional model, but rather a family one, especially since it looks less finished than some competing models such as Brown PRT 2000 and theOmron Flex Smart.

However, there is nothing to worry about, even if we would like it to be waterproof (IP22 only) to simplify its maintenance. If this does not happen, the tip should be cleaned with gentle soap or a cotton ball dipped in 70% alcohol. Be careful not to pass the thermometer underwater, as its battery slot is not fitted with a seal.

Works in 3 seconds

Operating the Thermo D2 isn’t complicated. Simply turn it on by pressing its single button—unfortunately not the best place to operate with one hand—and then wait a couple of seconds for it to initialize. Then the last measured temperature is displayed for a big second. All that remains is to place the thermometer in the rectum, in the cavity under the tongue, or in the armpit. Once the temperature is measured, the Thermo D2 beeps and displays the result on its screen.

Fever that quickly turns red

The color of the display backlight changes depending on the level at which the measured temperature is: green between 32°C and 37.1°C; yellow between 37.2°C and 37.5°C; red between 37.6°C and 43.9°C. It’s easy to tell if you have a fever at a glance. In addition, the thermometer indicates the presence of a fever through a series of rapid beeps when the temperature exceeds 37.5°C.

The Thermo D2 does not adapt its assessment of the fever level according to the person’s age, but by indicating a red color of 37.6°C, it does not risk underestimating.

Ready in just 3 seconds after pressing the ignition button, the Thomson Thermo D2 doesn’t take long to measure the temperature either. It only takes about 12 seconds to grip rectally or in the mouth. In the axillary grip, the measurement only takes a few extra seconds, but the manufacturer recommends waiting at least 20 seconds for the temperature to stabilize. It is already the lower limit, and the temperature under the armpit is less stable than the rectal or oral temperature.

Due to its good speed, the Thermo D2 can easily take several consecutive measurements if you want to ensure temperature reliability. However, during our tests it showed good repeatability of its measurements (90%) in the rectal grip. So we can count on the results shown, which differ quite a bit.

Accuracy is also satisfactory compared to our reference thermometer, with an average deviation of just 0.15°C, although the manufacturer claims an accuracy of +/- 0.3°C.