What is the difference between Calibration and Validation?
14 November 2017
You must carry out instrument calibration on a regular basis to make sure that they produce accurate results. It is important to calibrate the following:
- - Instruments after a repair
- - New instruments
- - When the measurements seem questionable
- - When there is a sudden change in the operating conditions or instrument environment
- - Before a critical measurement
Validation is the process that ensures that a system, product or services consistently provides results within the acceptable criteria. The performance, quality, and other operating parameters are tested to verity that they comply with the necessary requirements.
Usually, process validation is done by a third party to make sure that the buyer is given a product that meets the specifications, requirements, and accepted standards. Documented results must be produced at the end of the process.
CALIBRATION
Calibration Is a process that ensures that accuracy is maintained in the measurements produced by your equipment
Calibration performance of any equipment is compared against a reference standard
Calibration assures accuracy of measurements
You must periodically calibrate your instruments, identify if there is a drift in the measurements and eliminate it through calibration
It should be performed as per calibration SOP
VALIDATION
Validation is a documented process that provides assurance that a product, service or system consistently provides results within the acceptable criteria
There are no reference standards used in validation
Validation provides proof of consistence across all the processes; bathes of products or methods being used
There are no such requirements for validation. It should be performed when you make any change in the existing system or when the revalidation period has reached
It should be performed as per the validation protocol