What is a calibration verification and when is it performed?

What is a calibration verification and when is it performed?

• A. A verification using a separate set of standards to confirm the calibration remains valid between calibrations; performed after calibration, at defined intervals, per SOP.
• B. A re-calibration using the same standards
• C. A QC check of internal standards
• D. An instrument maintenance log review

Answer: (A)

Calibration verification is the process of checking that an instrument’s established calibration remains accurate between formal calibrations. It uses a separate set of standards rather than the calibration standards to test that the instrument’s response still matches known values across the measurement range. This check is performed after a calibration and at defined intervals per SOP to catch drift or changes before results are reported. If the verification shows results outside acceptance criteria, recalibration or maintenance is typically required. This is different from re-calibration (which uses the same standards to establish a new calibration), a QC check of internal standards (which focuses on internal-standard performance within a run), or a maintenance log review (which documents upkeep rather than confirming calibration accuracy).

Calibration verification is the process of checking that an instrument’s established calibration remains accurate between formal calibrations. It uses a separate set of standards rather than the calibration standards to test that the instrument’s response still matches known values across the measurement range. This check is performed after a calibration and at defined intervals per SOP to catch drift or changes before results are reported. If the verification shows results outside acceptance criteria, recalibration or maintenance is typically required. This is different from re-calibration (which uses the same standards to establish a new calibration), a QC check of internal standards (which focuses on internal-standard performance within a run), or a maintenance log review (which documents upkeep rather than confirming calibration accuracy).