FAQs

It is now law that your defibrillator must be serviced and calibrated annually. However, showing an adequate maintenance record is becoming the industry standard across many sectors, such as schools, sporting establishments, and medical settings. Last year, 16.3% of defibrillators serviced by Seal Calibration Ltd were not rescue-ready.

Your defibrillator probably needs a service, but if you give us a call first, we can walk you through some troubleshooting.

Your defibrillator likely needs servicing, but call us first, and we can run through some troubleshooting.

Yes. If your defibrillator is displaying an error message, failing self-tests or repeatedly alarming, we can inspect, diagnose and repair the fault where possible. If you give us a call prior, in some instances, the issue can be diagnosed over the phone.

Please package the unit securely and include our Return to Base Form describing the issue.

While legislation doesn’t always specify annual calibration, CQC, insurance companies or in-house policies may require evidence of a maintenance schedule – typically every 12 months – to ensure the device remains safe and ready for use.

Healthcare providers also have a duty to maintain medical equipment in a safe working condition.

It depends on the model of defibrillator.

We generally recommend sending:

• The main unit
• Battery & pads
• Charger or power supply (if applicable)

This way, we can certify that at the point of testing, the defibrillator is fully rescue-ready.

Ultimately, medical equipment is used to screen and diagnose. The results displayed on items such as thermometers, spirometers, ECG machines and pulse oximeters can determine whether to treat the patient and the strength of that treatment, so incorrect readings could lead to misdiagnosis. And yes, this is an annual requirement of CQC.

The advantage of using Seal Calibration Ltd is that we calibrate such a wide range of devices. For example, at a typical medical centre, most of the time, we can calibrate all of the items on site required for compliance purposes.

These include all types of Blood Pressure Monitors, Medical Scales, Thermometers, ECG Machines, Spirometers, Calibration Syringes, Ear Irrigators, Vaccine Refrigerators, Medical Freezers, Nebulisers, Hyfrecators, Defibrillators, Pulse Oximeters, Otoscopes/Auroscopes, Height Measures, CO Meters (Smokerlyzers), Hearing Loops, Centrifuges, Suction Pumps/Aspirators, Oxygen Concentrators, ABPI Devices, and Audiometers.

Calibration frequency depends on the device type and the manufacturer’s recommendations. As a general guide, ECG machines, audiometers, infusion pumps, syringe drivers, thermometers, ABPI units, spirometers, 3L calibration syringes, and defibrillators all typically require annual calibration.

Data loggers also generally need to be calibrated annually or according to your quality system. Depending on usage and manufacturer guidance, alcometers/breathalysers need calibrating every 6 to 12 months.

Some manufacturers or healthcare regulations may specify different intervals, so we always recommend following their guidance.

Once your equipment arrives at our lab, it’s typically tested, calibrated and returned to you within 3 to 5 working days. Your items are sent back via a fully insured courier, with your certificate emailed to you on the day the work is completed.

Yes. Every item we calibrate comes with a fully UKAS-traceable calibration certificate that is fully CQC compliant, emailed to you as soon as the work is finished.

Yes – all our medical equipment calibrations are UKAS-traceable, so you can be confident the results are accurate to recognised national standards.

Package each item securely, ideally in its original case, in a double-walled box with padded packaging for protection and thoroughly taped up to prevent damage in transit.

If you’re sending multiple thermometers or data loggers together, this can be done in one package, but include a list of everything enclosed so we can process it efficiently.

Don’t forget to complete our Return to Base Form and include it inside the package so our team has full details of the issue.

For an extra charge, we can arrange for your parcel to be collected via DPD. 

Yes – simply call us first on 0115 906 3131 to get a price and discuss your requirements. We’ll then email you a simple form to complete before you send your item in.

For an extra charge, we can arrange for your parcel to be collected via DPD. 

We calibrate equipment from a very wide range of manufacturers and models, including defibrillators, spirometers with 3L syringes, ECG machines, ABPMs, blood pressure monitors, ABPI devices, otoscopes, auroscopes, data loggers, breathalysers, and more.

If you’re ever unsure whether we support your specific make or model, just give us a call and we’ll confirm.

Yes. We calibrate and verify both resting ECG machines and stress-test ECG systems from a wide range of manufacturers.

During ECG calibration, we typically:

• Inspect the unit for damage
• Check electrical safety (where applicable)
• Verify ECG signal accuracy using a certified ECG simulator
• Check heart rate accuracy
• Test waveform amplitude and timing
• Verify paper speed and print quality (if fitted)
• Confirm the device meets manufacturer specifications

A service can also include preventative maintenance where recommended.

We calibrate audiometers using laboratory-grade acoustic measurement equipment in accordance with recognised standards. We verify frequency accuracy, output levels, distortion and other performance parameters to ensure reliable hearing assessments.

Yes. We recommend sending all transducers used with the audiometer, including headphones, insert earphones, bone conductors and patient response switches. Calibration is performed on the complete system.

We calibrate many types of audiometers, including:

• Diagnostic audiometers
• Screening audiometers
• Clinical audiometers
• Occupational health audiometers

Please contact us if you’re unsure whether we support your model.

Our service for infusion pumps/syringe drivers typically includes:

• Visual inspection
• Functional testing
• Flow rate accuracy testing
• Occlusion pressure testing
• Alarm verification
• Battery performance checks
• Preventative maintenance where required
• Calibration and final performance verification

Testing is carried out in line with manufacturers’ guidelines.

We service and calibrate many common makes and models of infusion pumps and syringe drivers used within hospitals, GP surgeries, community healthcare and private clinics.

If you’re unsure whether we support your equipment, simply contact us with the make and model.

We compare your instrument against traceable reference standards at known temperatures to verify its accuracy. A calibration certificate showing the measured results is provided.

Yes. Many customers send multiple instruments together. Please package them securely and include a list of all items enclosed to help us process them efficiently.

Over time, all measuring instruments can drift slightly from their original accuracy.

Regular data logger calibration helps ensure:

• Reliable temperature monitoring
• Compliance with quality systems
• Confidence in recorded data
• Traceability to national standards

Calibration for your Ankle Brachial Pressure Index (ABPI) typically includes:

• Pressure accuracy testing
• Leakage testing
• Inflation and deflation performance
• Functional testing
• Verification against traceable pressure standards

Yes. Sending the cuffs and Doppler probe allows us to check the complete system and identify any faults that may affect performance.

Spirometers are tested using certified calibration equipment to verify flow and volume accuracy.

3L calibration syringes are checked to ensure they deliver the correct calibrated volume for spirometer verification.

Common causes for spirometers to fail their 3L verification check include:

• Dirty flow sensors
• Damaged flow heads
• Environmental conditions
• Incorrect calibration settings
• A calibration issue with either the spirometer or syringe

If the problem persists, we recommend sending both the spirometer and 3L syringe for testing.

We calibrate many handheld, desktop and PC-based spirometers from leading manufacturers.

Contact us if you’re unsure about your model.

The alcohol sensor in alcometers naturally changes over time, causing readings to drift.

Regular calibration restores measurement accuracy and ensures reliable results.

Yes. We calibrate many personal, workplace and professional breathalysers. If you’re unsure about your model, please contact us before sending it in.

Calibration of alcometers and breathalysers involves:

• Inspecting the unit
• Testing its performance
• Adjusting the sensor using certified alcohol reference standards
• Verifying accurate readings across the operating range
• Issuing a calibration certificate where applicable

Following the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER), yes, an annual service of your variable-height couches is required. Medical couches are also on CQC’s list of equipment needing an annual maintenance record.

If you have a branded UK-manufactured medical or physio couch manufactured by Plinth 2000, Medi-Plinth, Sunflower, Seers, Huntleigh, Doherty, Meckler Medical, or Stabil, then the chances are we have the parts in stock and can assist in repairing your couch.

This is most likely one of two issues: either a broken hand controller or a broken motor and actuator. If you have two couches that are the same, the first thing to try is to swap the hand controller to see if this works. Give us a call and see if we can send a replacement hand controller. If this doesn’t work, then it is likely that the motor will need replacing.

Variable-height medical couches cost £1000 – £2000+, depending on make and functionality. So, yes, repairing a broken element such as a hand controller, gas strut, cushion replacement, or vinyl repair is relatively inexpensive compared to replacing the whole couch.

A brief description of the issue with the couch, the make, model and serial number of the couch, together with a side profile picture of the couch, would be very helpful in ensuring that we attend to fix your couch with the matching replacement parts.

In this instance, there could be ice build-up. The first step would be to complete a 24 – 36-hour manual defrost by switching the fridge off and leaving the door open. If the problem persists, please contact us when you are with the fridge, to run through more troubleshooting.

Give one of our friendly team a call on 0115 906 3131, and we will run through some troubleshooting with you.

Labcold fridges require four AA batteries, which are housed on the outside of the cabinet. You must switch the fridge off, replace the batteries, and turn it back on.

This means there has been an interruption to the power supply. Please check your data logger readings to ensure the vaccines have not been compromised, and when complete, press the tick on the display.

We carry out a free assessment service. This involves getting your spirometer to our lab via an insured courier service. Often, the turbine or transducer will need replacing, and the unit will need calibrating, but this is a small cost for an expensive device.

We offer a free assessment service.

Poor ECG traces are often caused by:

• Worn or damaged patient leads
• Dirty, worn or incorrect electrodes
• Poor skin preparation
• Damaged lead wires
• Electrical interference

Initially, give us a call so we can carry out some simple troubleshooting over the phone. If not successful and replacing leads and electrodes doesn’t resolve the issue, we will get your ECG to our lab in a stable environment using an insured courier service.

Often, this will be a simple fix, and the unit will need inspecting, testing and calibrating by a Seal Calibration technician, but this is a small cost for an expensive device.

Yes. We have a dedicated in-house repair lab with anti-static benches and specialist equipment, so if a fault is found during calibration – or if you send a device in because it’s already showing a fault – we can diagnose and repair it where possible, helping avoid the cost of a full replacement.

Where a fault is found during return to base calibration, we’ll contact you with the details and a clear quotation before any work is carried out.

Once repaired, the device is fully recalibrated and certified before it’s returned, so it comes back to you ready for service and fully documented.

For items we’re unable to repair on-site, we’ll advise on the best route forward and can manage the process on your behalf.

EICR is an Electrical Installation Condition Report that, in its simplest form, involves testing all the wires in your building, from your fuse box to the sockets, switches, and lights. This is best completed out of hours as circuits must be switched off, and commercial premises should be completed at least every five years.

In most instances, servicing involves in-depth testing and checking of the functionality and condition of all of the medical item’s working and functional components. Calibration is a precise verification of the accuracy of the displayed output of the device to ensure that, in its simplest format, the device is measuring accurately.

Here at Seal Calibration Ltd, we keep track of when your calibrations and servicing are due. Ten months after your appointment, which is two months before its anniversary, we will contact you to ask if you would like a repeat of last year’s booking and which days and times are most convenient.

Generally, our calibration engineers work Monday through Friday. However, we pride ourselves on being the most flexible and accommodating calibration company, so yes, if a Saturday is the best day to complete the work, then we can accommodate this.