
Always use a digital thermometer to check your temperature. Because of the potential for mercury exposure or ingestion, glass mercury thermometers have been phased out and are no longer recommended.
No matter which type of thermometer you use, take these precautions:
You'll need an oral thermometer, used in the mouth.
A digital ear thermometer uses an infrared ray to measure the temperature inside the ear canal.
Temporal artery thermometers use an infrared scanner to measure the temperature of the temporal artery in your forehead.
A digital thermometer can be used in your armpit, if necessary. But armpit temperatures are typically less accurate than oral temperatures.
This article is written by Mayo Clinic Staff.
Information in this post was accurate at the time of its posting. Due to the fluid nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, scientific understanding along with guidelines and recommendations may have changed since the original publication date.
Check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for additional updates on COVID-19. For more information and all your COVID-19 coverage, go to the Mayo Clinic News Network and mayoclinic.org.
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