Post by Chuck Weddle on Apr 12, 2024 11:28:34 GMT
One of our reference meters had an obvious issue where the conductivity was fluctuating like it had air going through it (but didn't). It was discovered while doing PM's at one of our facilities.
My techs were demonstrating this to me and connected it to a machine and piggy-backed a second meter along with it. The 1st meter had wide rapid fluctuations while the 2nd meter read stable...BUT...it was reading 0.3 mS lower than the machine said it should be. I want to note that both of these meters still had 2-3 months before they were due for their annual testing/calibrations. We had a 3rd meter that was freshly back from having its annual service and put it inline with the other two. This 3rd meter read stable AND read exactly what the machine was reading.
Had the first meter not had a problem, we would have never known that the second one did also. 7 of the 15 machines that were just PM'd required recalibration.
We use IBP meters and they do not have a reccomendation or procedure for testing them in the field. I know we could develop our own procedure for this but there are a number of logistical issues with doing it.
We've been using the IBP meters for about 15 years and until now any problems were obvious and, their conductivities NEVER even needed calibration when they went in for their annuals.
If you can't trust your reference equipment 100%....What do you do?
We decided on:
What do you guys do?
My techs were demonstrating this to me and connected it to a machine and piggy-backed a second meter along with it. The 1st meter had wide rapid fluctuations while the 2nd meter read stable...BUT...it was reading 0.3 mS lower than the machine said it should be. I want to note that both of these meters still had 2-3 months before they were due for their annual testing/calibrations. We had a 3rd meter that was freshly back from having its annual service and put it inline with the other two. This 3rd meter read stable AND read exactly what the machine was reading.
Had the first meter not had a problem, we would have never known that the second one did also. 7 of the 15 machines that were just PM'd required recalibration.
We use IBP meters and they do not have a reccomendation or procedure for testing them in the field. I know we could develop our own procedure for this but there are a number of logistical issues with doing it.
We've been using the IBP meters for about 15 years and until now any problems were obvious and, their conductivities NEVER even needed calibration when they went in for their annuals.
If you can't trust your reference equipment 100%....What do you do?
We decided on:
- If the conductivity needs to be calibrated as part of a repair....A sample is sent to the lab to have its sodium level verified and the machine remains out of service pending results. Out of 150 machines, we only needed to calibrate conductivity 4 times last year so it's not a big deal. Overkill ? Probably but that's what our CMO wants.
- Since Braun machines hold a rock-steady conductivity, we like to be just as precise and during PM's will calibrate the machine to precisely match our reference meter. When a calibration is done during a PM, it will be verified with a second meter. We always have at least 2 meters when doing PM's so multiple machines can be done at the same time without having to wait for a meter.
