An infrared detector (20) receives infrared energy from the target (12) and provides a detector signal based primarily on the difference between the infrared detector temperature and the temperature of the reference temperature area of the detector. A contact temperature measurement device (28) provides a reference signal which is a function of the temperature of the reference temperature area (24) of the detector. A processor (36) receives the detector and reference signals and combines the two signals in a non-linear manner to result in a signal which is representative of the temperature of the target. The method of non-linearly combining includes the use of gain and offset terms which may be altered to a limited extent by a technician in the field with a blackbody calibration source. As a result of the recalibration, accurate target temperature measurements are continually provided. Additionally, the method of non-linearly combining includes the use of additional gain and offset terms which are adjusted to account for the infrared radiation characteristics of an anatomical target as compared to blackbody calibration source targets.
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