Introduction: FLIR Screen-EST™ is efficient, accurate desktop software for performing skin temperature screenings in high-traffic areas. When connected to a FLIR thermal camera, the software automatically detects individuals who enter the camera’s field of view and, within seconds, locates a hot spot and measures the skin surface temperature. If the measured temperature is higher than the rolling average, an alarm notifies the operator who can then immediately determine whether a second screening with a medical device is needed. FLIR Screen-EST sets up in minutes, allowing operators to screen individuals from a safe distance and mitigating the spread of illness among the work force. FLIR Screen-EST can be a vital tool for maintaining employee health and reducing the risk of work interruptions. How FLIR Screening Solutions Provide Easy, Efficient, and Accurate Measurement: FLIR EST™ thermal imaging cameras and software solutions offer specialized measurement modes and alarms that can easily identify when an individual is exhibiting high skin temperatures—a possible sign of fever, which, in turn, is a potential symptom of COVID-19 infection. These solutions initiate an alarm when the measured temperature exceeds a set threshold. While it might seem appropriate to set a fixed absolute threshold of 37.2°C (99°F), there are several factors that can affect skin temperature. FLIR EST solutions offer an intelligent screening mode that takes these factors into account. Unlike a medical thermometer you use at home, a thermal camera cannot measure a person’s core body temperature. These cameras are only capable of detecting surface temperatures, so they are best used to measure the area at the corner of the eye (inner canthus) where the skin is thin enough to provide a reading close to body temperature. Even so, temperatures measured at the inner canthus are usually a few degrees lower than body temperature— somewhere between 33.5°C and 36.9°C (92.3°F and 98.4°F). Skin temperatures tend to vary throughout the day, fluctuating with changes in the environment or even time of day. The same person will likely have a different skin temperature in the early morning compared to an afternoon on a sunny day; their temperature can change due to high activity or simply because they’ve spent time in a cold, air conditioned environment. In fact, research has shown that an increase of 10°C (18°F) in ambient temperature can lead to a skin temperature increase of up to 3°C (5.4°F). These skin temperature fluctuations make screening for elevated temperatures more challenging. Determining whether someone may have a fever therefore cannot be related to an absolute temperature. The temperatures of people with and without fevers should be seen as a continuum that will inevitably overlap. This is important to consider when setting alarms for elevated skin temperature screening. Defining an absolute temperature threshold for alarm may result in two unwanted effects: • False alarms: Setting the threshold too low may have the camera detect elevated temperatures with people who do not have fever. • Missed fevers: Setting the threshold too high is at the risk of missing people who have a fever but remain below the threshold temperature. Aggregating these temperature fluctuations into one absolute temperature that works in all environments does not make sense. Even when measurements are made inside in ambient room temperatures, there are too many variables to account for all skin temperatures. People who have just stepped inside from a hot afternoon will generate different skin temperatures than people who spent the whole day in an air-conditioned store. The system might not alert on a person chilled by AC and then alarm on everyone coming in from the outside heat. Finding one absolute threshold that fits all cases is not possible. Average temperature To have an efficient detection system that captures fever cases in varying ambient conditions, we need to have a threshold that adapts. The goal is to determine a relative temperature, i.e. compare the elevated temperature of one person to a succession of other people from the same environment. This is exactly what FLIR Screen-EST™ on-camera screening mode and computer software can do. The systems are designed to collect temperature samples and compare a new temperature measurement to the sampled average. FLIR Screen-EST on-camera mode is available on a wide range of FLIR thermal imaging cameras, including a new line of T5xx-EST and Exx-EST models. FLIR also offers Screen-EST computer software that runs the averaging process automatically. Regardless of whether it is on-camera or on-computer, Screen-EST records temperatures from several human subjects to determine an average relative temperature. The system then can be set to alarm when the average is exceeded by a specific amount—say, 1°C (1.8°F). This average must be updated periodically by adding new samples throughout the screening operation. This can reduce the impact of changing skin temperature from person to person and environment to environment, maximizing elevated skin temperature screening accuracy. FLIR Products for Skin Temperature Screening Stations: Cameras Supported: FLIR T540-EST, T560-EST, E54-EST, E86-EST, FLIR E53 1) FLIR E54-EST: The FLIR E54-EST handheld thermal camera is a non-contact screening tools that serve as a first line of defense against potential health risks. This FLIR EST™ thermal screening solution detects and visualizes heat to quickly identify individuals with an elevated skin temperature. With 320 × 240 thermal pixel resolution and bright touchscreen display, the E54-EST offers accurate, easy-to-interpret temperature measurement. The on-camera FLIR Screen-EST Mode offers visual positioning guides, automatic sampling to maintain an updated temperature average, and graphic pass/fail indicators for results, reducing the burden on screening station operators. Compatibility with FLIR Screen-EST Desktop software, an integrated tripod mount, and external power makes this camera a good fit for permanent installations. 2) FLIR E86 – EST: The FLIR E86-EST handheld thermal camera is a non-contact screening tools that serve as a first line of defense against potential health risks. This FLIR EST™ thermal screening solution detects and visualizes heat to quickly identify individuals with an elevated skin temperature. With 464 × 348 thermal pixel resolution and bright touchscreen display, the E86-EST offers accurate, easy-to-interpret temperature measurement. The on-camera FLIR Screen-EST Mode offers visual positioning guides, automatic sampling to maintain an updated temperature average, and graphic pass/fail indicators for results, reducing the burden on screening station operators. Compatibility with FLIR Screen-EST Desktop software, an integrated tripod mount, and external power makes this camera a good fit for permanent installations. 3) FLIR T540 - EST: The FLIR T540-EST handheld thermal camera is a non-contact screening tools that serve as a first line of defense against potential health risks. This 464 × 348 pixel resolution FLIR EST™ thermal screening solution detects and visualizes heat to quickly identify individuals with an elevated skin temperature. Battery-powered and featuring an integrated touchscreen display, the T540-EST sets up quickly and easily for operation in temporary or mobile screening settings. The on-camera FLIR Screen-EST Mode offers visual positioning guides, automatic sampling to maintain an updated temperature average, and graphic pass/fail indicators for results, reducing the burden on screening station operators. Compatibility with FLIR Screen-EST Desktop software, an integrated tripod mount, and external power makes this camera a good fit for permanent installations. Back in Business: How to Screen for Elevated Skin Temperature in the Workplace: Building a First Line of Defense with Thermal Imaging Cameras: Elevated skin temperature screening with a thermal imaging can help offices, businesses, factories, and other operations avoid work and production interruptions due to COVID-19. By screening each person for elevated skin temperature before they enter a building, you can determine who needs a medical check for fever, which can be a sign of infection. It’s an easy and efficient way helping reduce the risk of spreading the virus. Options for High-Traffic Areas: Protective measures such as disinfecting equipment, requiring six feet of distance between people, or any of the other recommendations for reducing risk are important for minimizing the spread of disease. Unfortunately, none of these measures can prevent a sick person from entering a shop or building. What’s needed is a fast method of screening workers or customers for signs of a fever – one of the known symptoms of infection. While the most comprehensive solution for checking for elevated temperature is to use medical device like a thermometer, there are several disadvantages: individual temperature checks with a thermometer require time, proximity, personnel to operate the device, and protective gear to keep workers and customers safe. Bringing Thermal into Your Workplace: How would you incorporate this kind of imaging in your frontline screening plan? While any plan will need to be specific to your building and work conditions, many businesses have set up a FLIR thermal camera on a tripod at the entryway to screen people as they come in. As employees or customers enter the building, they simply stop briefly at a marked point in front of the camera for a quick screening. Anyone monitoring the thermal image won’t be able discern the person’s features or tell who it is, protecting their privacy. But they will be able to measure apparent skin temperature and see it displayed on screen. If the person’s skin temperature appears normal, they can proceed past the check station while the next person is screened. FLIR thermal cameras for elevated skin temperature screening, such as the T540-EST, offer a built-in temperature screening that makes this process even easier. First, this mode can help you find the average skin temperature for people moving through your location. This is important because ambient factors such as air conditioning, outside temperatures, and even time of day can affect body temperature. Based on this average, you can then see who appears to have a higher skin temperature. You can even set an audio or color alarm on the camera that will go off when the camera detects an above average temperature. From there, you will know who to check for a fever using a thermometer or other medical device. FLIR thermal cameras for elevated skin temperature screening, such as the T540-EST, offer a built-in temperature screening that makes this process even easier. First, this mode can help you find the average skin temperature for people moving through your location. This is important because ambient factors such as air conditioning, outside temperatures, and even time of day can affect body temperature. Based on this average, you can then see who appears to have a higher skin temperature. You can even set an audio or color alarm on the camera that will go off when the camera detects an above average temperature. From there, you will know who to check for a fever using a thermometer or other medical device. In addition to on-camera screening mode, FLIR offers desktop software that works in conjunction with the thermal camera further enhancing the screening process. FLIR Screen-ESTTM Desktop Software has features like auto face detection and auto average sampling. Cameras are connected to the software by standard cabling or wireless. Thermal Cameras Can’t Detect Fever or Illness: FLIR provides a variety of thermal products to screen for elevated skin temperatures in connection with additional screening tools; however, it’s important to understand that no thermal camera can diagnose illness or see a virus. They also should not be relied upon to determine if someone has a fever. What thermal cameras can do is tell you whether the person being screened is displaying an above-normal skin temperature. That means you can screen a lot of individuals quickly and only pull aside those who appear to have a high skin temperature for secondary checks with a medical device. FLIR has many resources to help you better understand thermal imaging for elevated skin temperature screening, including camera recommendations, tips for using Screening mode, and an FAQ page.