Timely calibration of critical equipment is essential in the Biotechnology industry

 

1. Why is calibration important?

 

Given the enormous impact of the Biotech sector on the lives of billions of people, the industry takes every measure to ensure it conducts its research with accurately calibrated equipment.  Labs have to adhere to numerous regulatory compliance requirements to ensure their product integrity, which include proper instrument calibration in a timely manner.

A calibration certificate is issued for equipment after validation. This certificate contains key information such as a reference standard, last calibration date, next calibration due date, normal operating range of instrument etc. The calibration certificate is a mandatory document that is referred to prior to producing products. Should a problem arise in the manufactured product, information contained in the calibration certificate is key to determining when, where, and how an error was introduced.

As with any manual process, keeping track of calibration-due-dates is subject to human error no matter how organized or careful lab personnel may be.

2. How AssetPulse RFID asset tracking solution helps with calibration tracking?

AssetPulse’s RFID Asset Tracking solutions address this problem.

AssetPulse software facilitates the entire calibration process – from determining which assets need calibration to physically locating them and to processing the post-calibration paper-work .

AssetPulse software proactively alerts users of upcoming calibration-due-dates – both via email as well as software alerts. Users are also able to query the system for a list of assets that need calibration in the near future. They can download thee asset lists to mobile RFID readers, which enable them to quickly and efficiently locate equipment on the lab floor. The AssetPulse Geiger Proximity Search Feature on the RFID reader makes this search even more efficient.

 

3. Maintain calibration records in AssetPulse software for easier reference

Once equipment calibration is complete, users can easily update the system with calibration dates and attach calibration certificates for the equipment. The AssetPulse System helps in calibration certificate traceability as it digitally stores calibration certificates, which means they are readily available in case of an audit. This alleviates the time-consuming manual process of searching through numerous paper folders in hopes of locating calibration certificates.

4. Keep track of equipment movement to and from Metrology

The AssetPulse RFID Tracking system also helps the lab managers and Cleanroom managers to track the movement of equipment through the calibration process. Equipment that goes to a third party for calibration can be tracked in the system. Alerts can be sent out if the equipment is not returned within a specified time. For equipment that goes to the Metrology area within the company, the lab manager can track in real time, when equipment enters the area for calibration and when it is completed and ready for pickup. Before using our solution, equipment would be left sitting on shelves ready for pickup, for weeks together.

Using the AssetPulse RFID-Enabled Asset Tracking software, our biotech and biomed customers have streamlined their calibration processes, whether they perform calibration in-house or they contract it out to third parties.