How often a test is calibrated is set by its IFU. Beyond the schedule, calibrate when:
- a new reagent lot is put into use, if the IFU requires it;
- after major maintenance or a part replaced on the analyzer;
- QC shows a shift that the Control itself does not explain.
Note every time
- the date, the calibrator lot and the reagent lot;
- the result on screen: passed, or the exact failure (slope, intercept, blank, correlation);
- a photo of the curve when it fails.
A calibration that fails twice is worth a problem report: choose Calibration fails and add the photo.