Modern thermometers score cool marks in Consumer Council test
More accurate and less expensive, the Consumer Council rated old-fashioned instruments higher
A high-priced, modern thermometer isn't necessarily the most accurate tool for taking your temperature. Rather, tests by the Consumer Council showed that old-fashioned stick-shaped instruments did better, despite being cheaper.
The council tested 25 different models of home electronic thermometer for accuracy, consistency of readings and mechanical strength.
Of those, seven stick thermometers for measuring oral, armpit or rectal temperature scored full marks in overall performance. No models containing mercury were tested, as they are increasingly unavailable.
The old thermometers were less expensive overall, costing HK$43 to HK$179. The newer, more expensive models cost HK$229 to HK$850.
"A good thermometer is your first line of alert against fever, a sign of many communicable diseases [and] has to be highly accurate," the council said in a statement. "But it does not necessarily have to be highly priced. On the contrary, the reverse is true."
In accuracy tests - measuring objects at three temperatures three times - newer models measuring the ear and forehead performed poorly.
Sales of one - which had a difference of up to 0.3 degrees Celsius in measuring an object at 37 degrees - have been stopped, the supplier said.
The approached five pharmacies in Causeway Bay and could not find this model.
Despite the better performance of cheaper thermometers, the council said the choice of type depended on the users' age and health.
"Obviously if you are quite ill, you want a more stable thermometer," chief executive Gilly Wong Fung-han said.
In this case, and for children and the elderly, a thermometer using a remote sensor to measure forehead or ears might be better because it was easier to control and gave a quicker reading.
In terms of mechanical strength, a tumbling test revealed weaknesses including a detached cover and broken clip, permanent black spots in the temperature reading display and permanent damage to the battery cover of the newer models. But the council said the instruments should be strong enough for ordinary daily use.
The watchdog also had bad news for users of two types of beauty cream.
It said tests in Europe had shown that the BB (blemish balm) and CC (colour correction) creams might fall short of manufacturers' claims about sun protection and moisturising.
Among 31 tested samples, most did not have a satisfactory hydration effect compared to ordinary moisturiser. More than a third also failed to protect users from ultraviolet rays, despite manufacturers' claims.
Council vice-chairman Philip Leung Kwong-hon said beauty-conscious buyers should be sceptical of the products.
"You cannot achieve all effects by using one single product … it is not advisable to replace moisturisers and sunscreen products with BB or CC creams."
He said routine skin-care products had to be used before applying BB or CC creams. Thorough cleansing was also recommended after use to avoid clogging of pores.
