Why keeping your Lab Equipment up to date is critical - and how to do it!

Poorly maintained, under-performing, or uncalibrated equipment will waste resources and time. In many laboratories, a device reporting inconsistent, inaccurate, or out of specification results can have devastating consequences.

This article provides valuable tips on how best to keep your lab equipment performing reliably and accurately, including the calibration, maintenance, and replacement of devices – and, in doing so, you will follow good laboratory practice.

Good Laboratory Practice

If you work in a laboratory, you have undoubtedly heard of good laboratory practice or GLP. It’s made up of several elements:

• Quality Assurance
• Certification of laboratory facilities
• Certification of analysts
• Specimen and or sample tracking
• Record keeping and documentation
• Accountability
• Material certifications (C of As)
• Policy and Procedures; and
• Instrumentation Validation.

Keeping lab equipment in tip-top shape falls into the category of instrumentation validation. By validation, we mean calibration - both inhouse and externally – as well as the maintenance and replacement of lab equipment.

Now let’s unpack the various ways you can achieve validation.

Validation through calibration

Calibration is a definitive method of ensuring instrumentation validation. In most cases, lab equipment will require both regular in-house calibration as well as external certification.

Inhouse Calibration

Depending on your device, you may need to perform regular in-house calibrations to keep the lab equipment in tip-top shape. Here are some practical examples:

• pH meters – These need regular in-house calibration using pH buffers
• Conductivity Meters – These require calibration using a conductivity standard
• Pipettes – Need to be checked to ensure the measured volume is correct
• Scales and Balances – Displayed weight must match actual weight – calibration is done in-house using standard weights
• Incubators and ovens – The temperature of devices must be regularly checked using thermometers or oven data loggers
• Refrigerators – Temperature should be checked recurrently using thermometers or oven data loggers
• Gas monitors – Calibration ensures your instrument reaches and maintains the setpoint.

Should your laboratory standard or company guidelines specify no calibration intervals, we recommend quick checks in the morning before using your lab equipment, weekly, or calibrations scheduled that at regular intervals. If you are in any doubt whether your devices need in-house calibration, or if you want some advice as to what intervals to test your gear, contact an Instrument Choice scientist.

External Calibration

Routine external calibration of key laboratory equipment is important to perform periodically. A third party with calibrated equipment will certify and state that your lab equipment is working as specified. External calibration requires an accurate piece of equipment (calibrated to a national or international standard). If the lab equipment requiring calibration is inaccurate, adjustments will need to be made to bring it into specification, where possible (say, unless the equipment is faulty).

For more information on Standards and Testing Authorities, see our article Ensure Your Data Loggers Are In-Check With Our Instrument Calibration Services.

Instrument Choice offers a range of calibration services NATA and non-NATA traceable Instrument calibration services.

NATA Calibration

• NATA 3 Point Calibration Certificate for Temperature Meters
• NATA 3 Point Calibration Certificate for Humidity-RH Meters
• NATA Endorsed Calibration Certificate for Pharmaceutical Loggers at +2°C, +5°C and +8°C.
• NATA Endorsed Calibration Certificate for IR or Probe Thermometers at 18°C, 3°C and 70°C

Non-NATA Calibration

• Instrument Choice Scientists Perform a Lab Check of Your Device
• 2 Point Standard Traceable Calibration – Various Meters
• 3 Point Standard Calibration for Humidity-RH Meters
• 3 Point Standard Calibration for Temperature Meters
• 3 Point Standard Traceable Calibration – Various Meters
• 5 Point Standard Traceable Calibration – Various Meters

See the full range and details of calibration services offered by Instrument Choice here.

Maintenance

Another way to prolong the life of your lab equipment, as well as keep GLP, is to stay on top of, track, and record any maintenance. Maintenance can include spare part replacements, including battery or electrode replacements and cleaning.

Replacement of Parts

Some components within lab equipment may wear faster than others. For example, a heating element or an item exposed to a high amount of friction may wear out faster than other components.

Regularly replacing such items can mitigate the need to purchase new lab equipment.

It’s also important to keep track and record the replacement of consumables. Its good practice, and as you collect more data, it will give you a good timeline of how much use to expect from consumables, such as a new battery or electrode.

Keeping track of changeovers and maintenance may also help to identify any issues. For example, where a probe has not lasted as long as expected, or results have suddenly and unexpectedly changed, having records means you can trace the date of the change.

Cleaning

Instrument Choice recommends performing regular cleaning on all lab equipment wherever possible. Over time spills, dust, and grime build-up, and this can impair the functionality and accuracy of lab equipment.

It is good practice to have a cleaning schedule for all laboratory items from large incubators and refrigerators to pipettes and pH meters - base the frequency and method upon your usage.

Replacement

There comes a time where a piece of lab equipment needs replacing. The good indicators that your lab equipment may be at the end of its life are:

• You cannot calibrate the device, or the device fails calibration
• Replacement of parts becomes unfeasible and sometimes more expensive than purchasing new lab equipment
• The device becomes slow or cumbersome, or
• The device is outdated, and more accurate lab equipment is available.

If you are unsure whether to continue maintaining and recalibrating your lab equipment, or whether it’s time to lash out on some new gear, you can always contact us for a chat.

Conclusion:

Managing your scientific instruments while following GLP makes sense because it will ultimately save you time, money, and reduce risk. As you follow this journey, you can relax knowing that Instrument Choice scientists have your back. Whether you need information on how to calibrate, maintain, clean, or purchase new lab equipment, we’re here for you.

These no inquiry too big or too small. Contact one of our scientists on 1300 737 871 or email [email protected].