Why Calibration Matters for Your Medical Devices
Whether you work in a GP surgery, pharmacy, healthcare centre, hospital, ambulance, or clinic, you’ll want the peace of mind and assurance that you can rely on your medical devices exactly when you need them.
The good news is – annual medical equipment calibration services keep your diagnostic and monitoring devices accurate, safe, compliant with the Care Quality Commission (CQC), and certified to UKAS-traceable standards.
To give you an insight into our day-to-day operations, we’ve broken down the top 8 types of medical devices that require calibration, what each service typically involves, and how our Return to Base option can reduce downtime and costs for your practice or organisation.
1. ECG Machines
One of the most sensitive medical devices, electrocardiogram (ECG) machines need to accurately record the heart’s electrical signals and assess its rhythm and health so that you can make a correct cardiac diagnosis.
To ensure your ECG is in top condition and produces a clear trace, it must be serviced and calibrated every year. Our ECG calibration services involve:
- Inspecting the unit for any damage
- Checking electrical safety (where applicable)
- Verifying signal accuracy using a Rigel UniSim vital signs simulator
- Checking heart rate accuracy
- Testing waveform amplitude and timing
- Verifying paper speed and print quality (if fitted)
- Confirming the device meets manufacturer specifications
- Preventative maintenance where recommended
2. Audiometers
Used to measure hearing sensitivity across different frequencies and sound intensities, audiometers must be incredibly precise to prevent misdiagnosis and ensure consistent hearing assessments.
Using laboratory-grade GRAS audiometer calibration system equipment, we will verify the following:
- Frequency accuracy
- Output levels
- Distortion
- Other performance parameters
3. Infusion Pumps & Syringe Drivers
Delivering precise amounts of fluids or medications to a patient over a period of time, infusion pumps and syringe drivers require annual calibration services to prevent life-threatening dosing errors.
Our comprehensive service for infusion pumps and syringe drivers includes:
- Visually inspecting the device
- Testing the functionality, flow rate accuracy and occlusion pressure (in line with manufacturer guidelines)
- Verifying the alarm
- Checking battery performance
- Preventative maintenance where required
- Calibration and final performance verification using a Rigel Multi-Flo (single channel) infusion device analyser
4. Data Loggers & Thermometers
Essential for continuously monitoring and recording temperatures for medical supplies, data loggers and thermometers need to be calibrated to provide accurate readings whilst ensuring safety and compliance.
This involves:
- Temperature calibration using a Beamex reference calibrator
- Comparing your device against traceable reference standards at known temperatures
- Verifying accuracy
- Certification showing measured results
5. Spirometers & 3L Syringes
Spirometers and 3L syringes must be calibrated annually to ensure accurate, consistent measurement of the volume of air an individual can inhale or exhale, thereby assessing their lung function. This involves:
- Testing spirometers against a fixed-volume test rig to verify flow and volume accuracy
- Checking 3L syringes to ensure they deliver the correct calibrated volume for spirometer verification
6. ABPI Devices
Simultaneously measuring blood pressure in arms and legs to check for peripheral arterial disease (PAD), Ankle Brachial Pressure Index (ABPI) devices require annual calibration to ensure accurate blood pressure measurements and prevent misdiagnosis.
This means using a Beamex reference calibrator and approved manufacturer calibration equipment for:
- Pressure accuracy, leakage and functional testing
- Inflation and deflation performance
- Verification against traceable pressure standards
7. Defibrillators
Defibrillators must be rescue-ready at all times and deliver a precise, life-saving shock, so annual calibration is absolutely essential, as it could make the difference between life and death in the event of sudden cardiac arrest. As part of our complete Defibrillator Service, we will:
- Fully test the device for damage and malfunction
- Visually inspect the case, screen, buttons, and connections
- Check the battery and pads and record their status, making note of replacement dates
- Confirm the battery and pads are fully compatible
- Energy, charge, and pacing calibrate your defibrillator using a Rigel UniPulse defibrillator analyser
- Additionally test multifunction defibrillators using a Rigel UniSim and UKAS-traceable
calibration gas to verify full vital signs and capnography - Automatically enrol you into our reminder system to replace consumable parts
8. Alcometers
Alcometers and breathalysers must give a reliable, accurate reading every time they’re used, so regular calibration every 6 to 12 months keeps results consistent and legally defensible. Our alcometer calibration services include:
- Inspecting the unit for damage or wear
- Testing performance
- Adjusting the sensor using certified alcohol reference standards
- Verifying readings are correct across the full operating range
- Issuing a calibration certificate where applicable
How Our Return to Base Calibration Services Can Help You
Not all medical devices need On Site Calibration. In fact, our Return to Base Calibration Services allow you to send your portable or benchtop medical equipment straight to our temperature- and humidity-controlled laboratory.
Instead of sending one of our engineers to your premises, you can handle the postage and delivery of your items, or we can arrange for collection via DPD for an extra cost. Causing minimal disruption to your workflow, this service offers a straightforward, cost-effective solution for your medical practice. Plus, you’ll only be without your medical device for a few days. Once your equipment has been calibrated, tested, and certified, it will be returned to you ready for use within 3 to 5 working days.
What’s more, if a device fails testing or arrives defective, we often repair it in-house instead of returning it to the manufacturer, saving you time, money, and the trouble of finding a replacement.
Get in Touch
If you’re unsure whether your equipment qualifies for Return to Base, simply ask us – we don’t just calibrate the medical devices listed above! Let us know what you’d like to send, and we’ll confirm the requirements and turnaround time before anything is shipped. Then, all that’s left for you to do is securely package your device and post it to our calibration centre at Seal Calibration Ltd, Unit 1, Upper Enterprise Road, Old Dalby, LE14 3DA. You can reach us by phone on 0115 906 3131 or send us a message via our contact form.