Explain how Maintenance and Calibration of Equipment fit into a Quality System

Explain how maintenance and calibration of equipment fit into a quality system. In the laboratory quality is synonymous with accuracy. For a laboratory accuracy of results is of paramount importance as a failure to achieve accuracy in a set of results could lead to damaging financial loss in a marketing environment or even result in a miscarriage of justice if quality control is inadequate within a forensic lab. Quality control within a lab must therefore …

…oven thermometers should be calibrated against NITS (National Institute for Technology and Standards) certified thermometers. Materials used in analytical procedures, such as standards and reagents, are also subject to control within the quality system. Standards used for the purpose of calibration must be of high purity, for that reason precautions must be taken while handling and storing standards as to avoid contamination or degradation. Low temperature or darkened conditions may be required to preserve purity.