Refractometer calibration is one of the most important yet least understood concepts related to the use of refractometers. Substantially all measuring systems are prone to change over time; refractometers are no exception. It is therefore necessary to identify when this change has occurred and to counteract its effects through the process of calibration to insure the highest possible measurement accuracy.
Calibration / Traceability
The periodic calibration of refractometers is necessary to insure their continued accuracy and traceability. The calibration process insures that measurements made on a specific instrument will comply with predetermined specifications and will be repeatable anywhere in the world.
Calibration is the act of establishing, under specified conditions, the relationship between values read on a refractometer and the corresponding values represented by a reference standard and the adjustment of the refractometer to match these values.
In the case of a refractometer, the reference standard is generally a fluid that has been prepared or standardized on instrumentation that is traceable to a nationally or internationally recognized source; alternatively, it may be a fluid such as distilled water that has accepted physical properties. Traceability relates individual refractometer results through an unbroken chain of calibrations back to a national standard, a fundamental physical property, international standards, or a consensus standard. AT MISCO, we provide traceability back to the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (“NIST”).
Level I Documentation
Level I certification is always less expense than Level II Certification because of the paperwork burden associated with the additional documentation requirements. Please select the certification level that’s right for your company:
Level I Certification fulfils the documentation and certification requirements of most quality control programs and is the form most often ordered. It is designed for those companies that are concerned with instrument precision but are not burdened by regulatory requirements for additional documentation. All Level I certified calibrations from the MISCO calibration laboratory come with a printed certificate containing the following information:
1. Title, “Certificate of Calibration”
2. Unique certificate identification number
3. The number of pages on the report
4. Description and identification of unit being calibrated
5. Name of the company requesting the report
6. Date test performed
7. Test and calibration results & unit of measure
8. Signature of technician performing the test
9. Name & address of MISCO Calibration Laboratory
10. Statement that, “results relate only to the items tested or calibrated.”
11. Statement that, “the test report or calibration certificate shall not be reproduced except in full, without written approval of the laboratory."
12. Condition of instrument on receipt
13. Out-of-tolerance statement
14. Statement of traceability
For more information on NIST Traceable Certified Calibrations, please visit our calibration page on this website.
Why Choose MISCO Calibration Laboratory: The overall accuracy of a refractometers' measurement is dependant upon the quality and calibration of the instrument. Uncertainty in measurement results can be kept to a minimum by controlling calibration related factors such as environment, reference material, comparison instrumentation, and training of personnel. MISCO Offers: - A dedicated calibration laboratory
- Environmental controls
- Fully traceable calibration standards
- Latest state-of-the-art calibration equipment
- Trained and experienced personnel
- Technical capability and knowledge
- Documented procedures compliant with ISO/IEC 17025
- Fast Service; 3 - day turn around for most calibration requests Refractometers are outside the scope of most third-party calibration houses. Those that can test refractometers can usually only tell you only how far out of calibration your refractometer is at the zero point. They do not have the equipment, software or product knowledge required to actually recalibrate your instrument. This is specifically true of the Palm Abbe and DFR, which can only be recalibrated at MISCO. Since refractometers are all we do at MISCO, we have the equipment and trained technicians available to fully recalibrate your refractometer. We are also a full-service repair facility for refractometers. You can receive preventative maintenance, calibration, and repair all at the same facility. Again, because refractometers are all we do, you will be assured that your instrument will receive the proper care. No one else can offer this value. We are established experts in the field of refractometer manufacturing, repair, and calibration.
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