Originally posted by bongski55:
I would like to have an opinion regarding the test/calibration of test equipment that are used in preventive maintenance of medical equipment.
Let's say for example I am doing PPM on a patient monitor. A suggestion of our ISO consultant is that instead of sending test equipment yearly for calibration, we should set aside a "reference monitor" as the basis for calibration.This reference monitor will be unused say for 3 years.
Logically there is a sense to this idea but I am not very comfortable with it.
My question is-if an equipment is unused(i.e. kept in the cabinet) would it be right to assume that the calibration can be extended to more than 1 year? Also can said equipment be used for reference?
Strange, our consultant said that we should not use non certified equipment for "Calibration", however we can use some other types of equipment for Go/No Go type checks or for general indication.
We do use some devices for "indication / reference only" that we could check against one of our calibrated devices.
As an example, we do have some calibrated multimeters, however the majority are for reference only (to save costs).
I would discourage against general non-calibration of test equipment, particularly if you are calibrating against it, however sense and logic allows you to single out individual devices that may be markered as "reference only".
Regards
Joe
