Braun’s PRT 2000 electronic thermometer takes advantage of its larger than average case to integrate a good-sized LCD screen on its front panel, as well as an age category change button which is added to the on/off button placed on its edge.
However, its tip is just as thin as that of its counterparts. Its elastomer material gives it a certain flexibility and limits the feeling of cold on the skin – appreciable in particular for a grip under the armpit.
The Braun PRT 2000 has a soft tip.
The PRT 2000 is powered by a flat CR1632 battery offering according to Braun up to 2000 temperature measurements. You can access it after unscrewing a small hatch located on its back. In the absence of a seal, it is not recommended to pass the thermometer under water, the PRT 2000 being satisfied with an IP22 certification.
Its maintenance nevertheless remains quite simple with 70% alcohol or even a mild soap if you just wash and rinse the tip.
Default axillary route
Using the Braun PRT 2000 is intended to be simple, but still requires an understanding of how it works. Indeed, it is indicated in its user manual – well done and quite explicit – that its Age Precision function is designed for temperatures taken under the armpit (axillary). An important precision, since the axillary temperature is lower than the oral and rectal temperatures that can also be achieved with this thermometer.
A user manual well done and it is better to read.
In other words, a temperature taken rectally or orally could be falsely interpreted as fever by the thermometer, which would then display a color code of orange rather than green or red rather than orange, for example. Better that than the opposite, but it is unfortunate that it is not configurable. Otherwise, it is advisable to remain cautious – not necessarily to be alarmed as soon as an orange color code appears, for example – and to consult the correspondence table present in the instructions for use if you have any doubts. on the interpretation of the measured temperature (according to age). In case of doubt, symptoms other than fever should also attract attention and the advice of a doctor remains essential.
An audible and visual fever alert
Apart from this feature of the Age Precision function, the Braun PRT 2000 is easy to use. Simply press its slice button to turn it on, after which the last measured temperature is displayed on the screen for 2 s. You must then press the blue button on its front to select the child’s age group in months (0-2, 2-36 or 36+) before positioning it to take the temperature.
The Braun PRT 2000 ready to take the temperature.
Unlike the Braun PRT 1000, the PRT 2000 has a fever alert by beeps (a succession of beeps rather than a long beep). This is added to the alert by changing the color of the screen (green if no fever, orange for moderate fever and red for high fever).
Green screen: no fever.
Accuracy and speed
Fast, but not between takes
The Braun PRT 2000 thermometer is ready in about 8 seconds (switching on then selecting the Age Precision age group). It’s not very fast, but bearable for a single temperature measurement. This becomes a little more troublesome if you want to repeat the measurement to ensure its reliability, because it is not possible to pre-section the age group, contrary to what the ThermoScan models with Age Precision of the same manufacturer. Too bad, because the measurements themselves are very fast for a thermometer of this type (about 6 s), including by the axillary route — Braun does not specifically advise in its user manual to wait up to 90 s for a axillary measurement, contrary to what he recommends for his PRT 1000.
Repeatable measurements
Fortunately, the temperature varies little during successive measurements, the PRT 2000 having achieved a repeatability of 89% during our tests (3 successive measurements every 10 minutes out of a total of 70 minutes).
The temperature curve of the Braun PRT 2000 compared to that of our reference rectal thermometer
Its accuracy is also correct, with an average difference of 0.28°C in rectal grip compared to our reference thermometer. Difference due in particular to 2 series of measurements for which the thermometer recorded significantly lower average temperatures (0.7°C and 0.5°C). Regrettable, because the temperature differences are otherwise limited to between 0.1°C and 0.3°C on the other 5 series. It may therefore be difficult to use this thermometer for precise monitoring of changes in body temperature.
The temperature differences measured in relation to our reference thermometer
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