What Is Calibration and Why Is It Important
Calibration ensures that a measuring device provides accurate results. It is a process that compares a known measurement with a measurement produced by the instrument used in a lab. Calibration ensures that equipment used in laboratories produces accurate measurements. International standards set the parameters for a properly calibrated laboratory instrument or piece of equipment.
Answering the question, “What is calibration, and why is it important?” is critical to understanding the science of measurement. Over time, repeated use can cause measuring equipment to “drift” or become less accurate. It is important to compare measurements taken by one instrument in a lab against a measurement taken by an instrument that is known to meet international standards for producing results within strict parameters.
Many industries depend on accurate measurements of temperature, humidity, weight, pressure, and other variables to ensure product quality and consistency. Improper calibration resulting in inaccurate measurements can cause injury, illness, or, in extreme cases, even death.
Proper calibration increases safety and saves money. Laboratory tests done with improperly calibrated instruments produce inaccurate results and create the need for additional, often costly tests.
What calibration is and why it is important really hits home when measurements of energy or water use are inaccurate, resulting in enormous bills. All kinds of everyday tasks and processes rely on properly calibrated instruments. Getting the right tire pressure for your car’s wheels or the right dose of medication depends on accurate measurements. Food safety relies on an accurate measure of temperature to ensure that cooked food is safe to consume. Accurate calibration ensures that a five-pound bag of flour or sugar actually weighs five pounds and that the buyer is getting their money’s worth.
Accurately calibrated instruments are so important to medical, pharmaceutical, and testing laboratories that the responsibility for proper measurements and calibration of instruments and equipment in these labs often rests with specially trained professionals called metrologists or metrology engineers. These professionals certify that scientific instruments and equipment provide reliable results by ensuring they are correctly calibrated. Calibration is important to everything from medical diagnostic tests to determining the internal temperature of a grilled burger. Calibration ensures that instruments produce accurate measurements, and it is important for safety and efficiency.
