Whenever the clinical accuracy of the thermometer is in question, verify the instrument calibration. Your hospital biomedical department should establish a routine schedule for verifying instrument calibration. It is recommended the unit be tested semi-annually.
Cal-Key Verification
This method uses a fixed value to verify that the device is calibrated properly.
- Remove any probe currently connected to the SureTemp Plus Thermometer.
- Connect the SureTemp Plus Cal-Key (PN 06138-000).
- Wait one minute for the device to enter Monitor mode and display the temperature.
- The temperature should read 36.3 +/- 0.1ºC or 97.3 +/- 0.2ºF.
- Remove the SureTempPlus Cal-Key.
- Connect the original probe back to the device.
This method is used to verify the calibration of the unit and probe pairing at two different temperatures. Use a verified thermometer from the Cal-Key Verification and a functioning probe.
Caution: Store thermometers for testing in the same room as the 9600 Calibration Tester for approximately 30 minutes prior to testing to allow for thermal accommodation.- Plug in the Model 9600 Calibration Tester.
- Choose the 96.4ºF/35.8ºC temperature setting. It is important to use the lower temperature setting first because the stabilization time from a high temperature to a low temperature takes about20 minutes. Stabilization from lower temperature to higher temperature requires about four ) minutes.
- Wait for the Ready or green light to come on and stay on. This should take about six minutes.
- Remove the probe from the well and clean it with either a 70% isopropyl alcohol solution, [a] 10% chlorine bleach solution, or a non-staining disinfectant. Let the probe air dry. Do not apply a probe cover. Place the thermometer in Monitor Mode. Refer to the thermometers Operator’s Manual.
- Lift the rubber flap on the 9600 and insert the probe fully into the small hole on top of the 9600.
- Wait 2 minutes for the probe temperature to fully stabilize. The temperature should read between 96.1ºF/35.6ºC and 96.7ºF/36.0ºC.
- Remove the probe from the small hole on top of the 9600 and replace it in the probe well.
- Change the temperature setting to the 106ºF/41.1ºC setting.
- Wait for the Ready or green light to come on and stay on. This should take about four minutes.
- Pull the probe from the well, but do not load a probe cover. Place the thermometer in Monitor Mode. Refer to the thermometer’s Operator’s Manual.
- Lift the rubber flap on the Model 9600 Calibration Tester and insert the probe fully into the small hole on top of the tester.
- Wait two minutes for the probe temperature to fully stabilize.
- The temperature should read between 105.7ºF/40.9ºC and 106.3ºF/41.3ºC.
This method is used to verify the calibration of the unit and probe at three set point temperatures 36.0ºC (96.8ºF), 38.5ºC (101.3ºF), 41.0ºC (105.8ºF). Use a verified thermometer from the Cal-Key Verification (3.5.1) and a functioning probe.
Caution: Store thermometers for testing in the same room as the 9600 Plus Calibration Tester for approximately 30 minutes prior to testing to allow for thermal accommodation.- Plug in the Model 9600 Plus Calibration Tester wall transformer to electrical power.
- The 36.0ºC (96.8ºF) temperature setting is selected when the calibration tester is first powered on. If the calibration tester is all ready powered on, change the temperature setting on the Model 9600 Plus Calibration Tester to 36.0ºC (96.8ºF) with the up/down arrow key (Temperature will scroll through the 3 settings). It is important to use the lower temperature setting first because the stabilization time from high temperature to low temperature takes about twenty (20) minutes. Stabilization time from a lower temperature to a higher temperature takes about six minutes.
- Wait for the displayed temperature to stop blinking. The actual temperature displayed blinks until the set temperature has stabilized.
- Remove the probe from the thermometer well and clean it with either a 70% isopropyl alcohol solution, a 10% chlorine bleach solution, or a non-staining disinfectant. Let the probe air dry for at least five minutes. Do not apply a probe cover. Place the thermometer in Monitor Mode. Refer to the thermometer’s Operator’s Manual.
- Rotate the dust cover down so the Thermistor Device Port is open/available, leaving the Ear Device Port covered, and insert the probe fully into the small hole on top of the Model 9600 Plus Calibration Tester.
- Wait for approximately one minute or until temperature on the thermometer is stable for ten seconds. Compare the thermometer’s temperature reading to the 9600 Plus’ calibration set point temperature. If the temperatures are within +0.1ºC (+0.2ºF), the thermometer is within calibration.
- Remove the probe from the probe well and place back into the thermometer probe well.
- Test all available thermometers for calibration verification at the current calibration set point temperature. Proceed to the next calibration set point temperature. To scroll from one set point to the next, press and hold the temperature selection button until a beep is heard. The newly selected set point appears in the upper left corner of the LCD display. The device’s current temperature is displayed, will start to flash, and continue flashing until the cavity reaches the equilibrium at the new set point.
- When done testing all thermometers at all temperature set points, close the dust cover on the Model 9600 Plus Calibration Tester.