Thermal Fever Detection System

How Thermal EBT Screening Works — The Physics and the Limitation

The MEDICAS system measures skin surface temperature of the facial region — primarily the inner canthus (inner corner of the eye), which is the skin surface most closely correlated with core body temperature among accessible facial measurement sites — using a calibrated radiometric LWIR thermal camera. Elevated skin surface temperature above a screening threshold indicates potential fever. This is non-contact, passive, and requires no interaction from the screened individual.

The critical limitation of thermal EBT screening — clearly documented in ISO/TR 13154:2017 — is that it is a preliminary screening tool, not a diagnostic instrument. It identifies individuals with elevated skin temperature who require secondary clinical assessment (contact thermometer, tympanic measurement, clinical evaluation); it does not diagnose infection, illness, or the cause of fever. Asymptomatic infections without fever are not detectable. The MEDICAS system is designed and positioned as a fast, high-throughput preliminary screening layer, not a diagnostic replacement.

Blackbody Calibration — Why It Is Mandatory for ±0.2°C Accuracy

Uncooled LWIR microbolometer detectors drift thermally over time as the detector and camera housing temperature changes with ambient conditions and self-heating. Without continuous reference correction, measurement accuracy degrades from the ±0.2°C specification to ±2°C or worse. A blackbody reference — a device that maintains a precisely controlled temperature and emits blackbody radiation at that temperature — placed within the camera’s field of view provides a continuous known-temperature reference point. The MEDICAS software uses this reference to continuously correct for detector drift, maintaining ±0.2°C accuracy throughout operation. The BB90 and BB200 Workswell blackbody calibration accessories are specifically designed for use with MEDICAS. Deployment without a blackbody reference produces uncorrected measurements outside the accuracy specification, and is not suitable for medical-grade screening.

High-Accuracy ±0.2°C Measurement with Blackbody Calibration

±0.2°C accuracy with blackbody reference meets the accuracy level specified by ISO/TR 13154:2017 for thermal EBT screening, enabling reliable discrimination between individuals with normal and elevated skin temperature at the threshold (typically 37.3–37.5°C skin temperature correlating with clinical fever) at the specified measurement distance.

Non-Contact Screening — Up to 300–500 Persons per Hour

Screens individuals without physical contact, eliminating cross-contamination risk between screened individuals and eliminating the operator proximity exposure associated with handheld contact or near-contact thermometers. Throughput of 300–500 persons per hour enables deployment at high-traffic entrances without creating queuing bottlenecks.

Eye Region Measurement — Mask Compatible

Inner canthus measurement from the eye region provides the best available skin-surface proxy for core temperature and remains accessible when subjects wear face masks, enabling continued screening in mask-mandatory environments.

Automated Alarms for Efficient Staff Deployment

LED and audio buzzer alarms automatically alert security or healthcare staff when an individual exceeds the temperature threshold, enabling staff to focus attention on confirmed elevated-temperature individuals rather than monitoring a display continuously.

Access Control and Data Logging Integration

Digital I/O and Ethernet interfaces enable integration with access control systems — automatically holding a door or turnstile when elevated temperature is detected — and with data logging and reporting systems for compliance documentation of screening events.

Regulatory Compliance for Institutional Procurement

ISO/TR 13154:2017 and IEC 80601-2-59 compliance with GDPR data handling provides the regulatory documentation required for procurement by Indian government agencies, hospitals under MoHFW guidelines, airports under DGCA/AAI biosecurity requirements, and organisations requiring demonstrable compliance with international thermal screening standards.

Airports and Transportation Hubs

High-throughput thermal screening at airport terminal entrances, immigration and check-in queues, and departure gates for pre-travel fever detection:

• Passenger terminal screening: MEDICAS at airport entry points providing rapid non-contact EBT screening of arriving and departing passengers at throughputs compatible with peak travel volumes, reducing queuing relative to handheld thermometer screening
• Staff access control: thermal screening of airport staff at employee entrances integrated with access control, automatically holding access when elevated temperature is detected
• Railway and metro station screening: thermal screening at major railway station and metro entry points for commuter health screening

Hospitals and Healthcare Facilities

Frontline fever screening for patients, visitors, and staff at hospital and clinic entry:

• Hospital entrance screening: MEDICAS at hospital entry points providing non-contact fever screening of patients, visitors, and outpatients before building entry, reducing the introduction of febrile individuals into the clinical environment
• Healthcare staff screening: daily staff entry thermal screening with data logging for healthcare worker health monitoring and compliance documentation
• Clinic and diagnostic centre screening: thermal screening at clinic reception areas for patient intake management and infection control

Corporate Offices and IT Parks

Employee and visitor thermal screening at workplace entry points:

• Employee entry screening: MEDICAS at corporate building entrances providing daily thermal screening of employees with automated alarm and access control integration
• Visitor management: non-contact fever screening of visitors at reception, with event logging for visitor health record management
• Multi-floor building distribution: Ethernet-networked MEDICAS units at multiple building entry points managed from a central security station

Educational Institutions

Daily student and staff thermal screening for school and university campus health management:

• School entry screening: morning thermal screening of students and staff at school gates for daily health monitoring and early fever identification
• University campus access: MEDICAS at university building entrances with data logging for student and staff health records
• Examination hall screening: thermal screening at examination hall entry to prevent febrile students from attending and infecting others during high-density examination events

Factories and Industrial Plants

Worker entry thermal screening for factory and manufacturing plant health compliance:

• Factory gate screening: daily thermal screening of workers at factory gate entry points with access control integration, preventing febrile workers from entering production areas
• Clean room and pharmaceutical facility access: thermal screening at clean room entry points where worker health directly affects product quality and regulatory compliance
• Food processing facility screening: mandatory health screening at food processing plant entrances for food safety regulatory compliance

Government Buildings and Public Facilities

Thermal screening at government office, court, legislative, and public institution entry points:

• Government office access control: MEDICAS at ministry and government office entrance security posts, integrated with CISF or facility security access control systems
• Court and legislative building screening: thermal screening at high-security public institution entrances with automated alarm escalation to security personnel
• Public events and exhibition venues: temporary thermal screening deployment at conferences, trade exhibitions, and public events with high-density attendance

United Spectrum Instruments is an authorised supplier of Workswell thermal imaging systems including MEDICAS in India, offering genuine systems with full manufacturer warranty, site assessment, blackbody calibration setup, access control integration, operator training, and after-sales technical support.

Genuine MEDICAS Systems with Regulatory Compliance Documentation

Genuine Workswell MEDICAS systems with ISO/TR 13154:2017 and IEC 80601-2-59 compliance documentation, providing the regulatory credentials required for government, healthcare, airport, and institutional procurement.

Site Assessment and Blackbody Calibration Setup

Site assessment for optimal MEDICAS placement (lighting, ambient temperature, measurement distance, subject flow), blackbody reference device selection (BB90 or BB200), calibration setup, and accuracy verification before system handover.

Access Control and Data Logging Integration

Integration support for access control systems (turnstiles, door access controllers, CCTV), Ethernet network connection for multi-point deployment management, data logging configuration for compliance reporting, and alarm escalation workflow design.