SICK vs. Sick: Measurement & Lab FAQ (Thermometers, Calipers, Microscopes, Pipettes)

This FAQ started with a confusing search hit. Someone typed 'thermometer sick fever temperature' and landed on our SICK sensor page. Wrong result. But that mix-up taught me something useful: names matter, but context matters more. I've been handling sensor and lab instrument orders for eight years. I've personally made and documented 21 significant mistakes, totaling roughly $18,000 in wasted budget. Now I keep a checklist so other people don't repeat my errors. The questions below are the ones that show up in my inbox, in purchasing forums, and once on a company Slack channel after someone ordered the wrong sensor. Here are the answers I wish someone had given me.

1. Does SICK make thermometers? Why do I see fever results when I search 'sick thermometer'?

No. SICK, with capital letters, is an industrial sensor company. We make photoelectric sensors, encoders, proximity switches, flow sensors, and some industrial temperature-sensing products. We don't make clinical fever thermometers. When you type 'sick thermometer' in lowercase, search engines read 'sick' as a health condition, so they show you fever-related pages. Honestly, I'm not sure why that association overrides the search so aggressively. My best guess is that health-intent scoring is much stronger than brand recognition for a four-letter word. To find the sensor brand, add a product term: 'SICK photoelectric sensor,' 'SICK encoder,' or 'SICK temperature sensor.'

If you actually need to measure fever temperature, use a real clinical thermometer—not an industrial sensor. A genuine thermometer reading matters when someone has a high fever. More on that next.

2. Wait, I need a thermometer because someone is sick. What should I use?

Use a dedicated clinical thermometer: digital oral, rectal, ear, or temporal. For infants and young children, rectal temperature is the most reliable reference method. According to the CDC, a fever is generally defined as 100.4°F (38°C) or higher. A 'sick real thermometer high fever' search usually means you need an accurate, validated medical device, not a tool from the industrial catalog.

One caution: don't point an industrial infrared sensor at a human forehead. It may produce a number, but it's not validated for medical diagnosis. I'm an instrument guy, not a clinician. If you're worried about a high fever, call a healthcare provider. That's the checklist version of 'when in doubt, ask.'

3. What is the 500-752-20 ABS IP67 caliper?

It's a Mitutoyo Absolute Digimatic caliper, model 500-752-20. The '500' series is the caliper family, '752' identifies the Absolute version, and '20' indicates the 0 to 6 inch / 0 to 150 mm range. 'ABS' doesn't mean plastic; it means Absolute encoder, so the zero position stays consistent even when the power goes off. 'IP67' follows IEC 60529: dust-tight and protected against temporary water immersion.

I almost ordered a batch of these in 2022 without checking whether the model code included the '20'. The 8-inch version looked almost identical in the catalog, but it was a different model and wouldn't fit the fixture base on our inspection station. The mistake would have cost about $2,400 in redo plus a two-week delay. Three things saved me: specs confirmed, environmental rating matched, calibration certificate checked. In that order. Also keep a spare CR2032 cell nearby—the Absolute scale remembers zero, but the display still needs power.

4. How to clean an Eppendorf pipette

The short answer: wipe the outside with 70% ethanol, clean the lower cone with ethanol or a mild detergent, and rinse with distilled water. Do not submerge the whole pipette. If the label says the pipette is autoclavable, follow the manufacturer's autoclave cycle. If it doesn't say that, don't autoclave it.

In 2019, I soaked the handle end of a pipette in ethanol because I was rushing between batches. The calibration seal dissolved, and the certification had to be reissued. $120 and two days of downtime for nothing. After cleaning, let the pipette air dry upright, then verify volume accuracy. According to ISO 8655, gravimetric testing is the standard way to check pipette performance after maintenance. That's your real protection, not just a clean tip.

5. What should I check before buying a fluorescence microscope?

Start with six things: optical path, filter cubes, objective specifications, light source, camera, and service access. For ordinary DAPI/FITC/TRITC work, make sure the filter cubes match your specific fluorophores. LED light sources are probably better for most labs now—they turn on instantly, don't need alignment, and don't have a mercury bulb to dispose of. If your lab will expand into multicolor imaging, a four-position filter turret saves you from buying a second scope later.

A used fluorescence microscope can feel like a great deal. The upside is saving money; the risk is inheriting lamp hours, misaligned optics, and a vendor that no longer supports the model. I once calculated the worst case: a used scope at $9,000 needed a $2,500 renovation, which made it barely cheaper than new. The expected value didn't justify the headache. What I mean is, the best microscope isn't the one with the biggest name. It's the one with service support, available objectives, and no hidden surprises. Compare brands like Olympus, Zeiss, and Leica objectively—check the actual objectives, not the logo.

6. How do SICK sensors compare with Omron or Keyence?

Compare by application, not by brand loyalty. I've installed SICK photoelectric sensors in dusty sawmills and Omron sensors in packaging lines. Both performed well when matched correctly. SICK is particularly strong in background-suppression photoelectric sensing, and I'd argue their encoders are excellent for heavy-duty motion control. Omron has a broad general-purpose catalog. Keyence is known for strong application support and setup software.

The important thing is to write down your operating conditions before asking for quotes: temperature range, humidity, IP requirement, available supply voltage, response time, cable length, and output type. A sensor that's cheaper but takes eight weeks to replace is not a bargain if your line is down. From my perspective, local repair turnaround often matters more than one spec-sheet edge. To be fair, if your factory has standardized on one brand, staying with it is defensible. Just don't say the other brands are bad—they're not.

7. What search mistake costs buyers the most time?

Searching for 'sick' alone. That one word is overloaded. In Q1 2024, I submitted a purchase request for a 'sick sensor' and the procurement system flagged it as a health-related keyword. It took three days and four emails to untangle. Now our pre-check list says: capital S-I-C-K, product category, model prefix. That small change has caught 47 potential ordering errors in the past 18 months.

The lesson: search engines don't know whether you mean the company or the condition. If you want an industrial sensor, include 'SICK' plus a product type. If you're measuring fever in a person, search for 'clinical thermometer' and read the accuracy spec. Both are legitimate needs. They're just not the same product.