7.4 Procedures and management of instru–
ment calibration (l
9.4
&
I
9.5)
List or refer to a list of equipment subject to ca–
libration. Refer to a list of past and planned ca–
librations. lt is important to note that also
minor equipment, e.g. pipettes, need regular ca–
libration. Identify outside competent sources of
calibration if used, and indicate the Iine of tra–
ceability to national or international standards
of measurements. Where in-house calibration
programmes are utilized, indicate the Iine of tra–
ceability to relevant reference standards or refe–
rence materials. In each measuremnt procedure,
the instruments subject to regular calibration
should be indicated.
Example:
CALIBRATIONOFA BALANCE
The balance xx is maintained and calibrated
by NN who is licenced by the National Stan–
dard Institute, which has traceability to the
international mass standard.
A log bookgives the date ofthe last calibrati–
on and the date when the next calibration is
due. A label with the same dates is attached
to the balance.
Comment: Calibration of instruments in the
clinical laboratory is applied to a lesser de–
gree than calibration of measurement proce–
dures (see section 10.6). The types of instru–
ments to be considered for calibration are:
balances, dispensors, dilutors, spectrometers
(absorbance scale, wavelength scale), cell co–
unters, centrifuges (rotational frequency);
however, also here the frequency of occur–
ring errors and the control system determine
the need for calibration, but a laboratory
should always have access to a balance which
can provide traceable values. All such instru–
ments should be appropriately marked.
24
15.5 Service review
(116.4)
Describe a system by which the laboratory en–
sures feed-back on its work from elinidans
~nd
other users ("medical audit", "patient audit").
This could, e.g., take the form of regular meet–
ings with the clinical departments, and through
enquiries to out-patients.
SERVICE REVIEW
Example 1:
Topics selected for service review in loboro–
tory NN carried out in cooperation with the
c/inicians and other users from various
wards:
Repertoire and relevance of profiles, qu–
antities related to thyroid function, infer–
tility, etc.
New quantities and methods.
Request and report forms.
Phlebotomy srevice.
Reporting system for emergency requests.
Out-of-hours service.
Support for decentralized equipment.
Research and development in connection
with clinical studies.
Research and development within the
loborotory to meet clinical requirements.
Communication between the loborotory
andusers.
Example2:
Topics selected for interviews with out–
patients:
Waiting room.
Sampling room
Facilities.
Written information.
Waiting time.
Sample collection techiques.
Stafjs service.
Klinisk kemi
i
Norden l, /992
