Traceability for Mercury Argon Calibration Source to Calibrate a Spectrometer?

[RCW]

I am using an Ocean Optics HG-1 Mercury Argon Calibration Source to calibrate a spectrometer. My dilema is justifying within my quality systems that there is no calibration traceability for the Calibration Source. Ocean Optics has confirmed there is no calibration / verfication to be done with the Calibration Source. The unit is using the natural, physical characteristics of mercury and argon for wavelength generation.

A number of options come to mind. I can label the Calibration Source as "No Calibration Requred" and wait for some outside auditing source (3rd party or customer) to jump on that. Maybe still log it in my calibration system? I'm looking for suggestions on the proper way to handle this situation. This is all very new to me as my monitoring and measurement equipment is usually traceable to NIST standards.

 

[Hershal]

This may not have gotten much response yet since the weekend is almost here. I and I am sure others also will look around and see if we can help.

 

[True Position]

I am using an Ocean Optics HG-1 Mercury Argon Calibration Source to calibrate a spectrometer. My dilema is justifying within my quality systems that there is no calibration traceability for the Calibration Source. Ocean Optics has confirmed there is no calibration / verfication to be done with the Calibration Source. The unit is using the natural, physical characteristics of mercury and argon for wavelength generation.

A number of options come to mind. I can label the Calibration Source as "No Calibration Requred" and wait for some outside auditing source (3rd party or customer) to jump on that. Maybe still log it in my calibration system? I'm looking for suggestions on the proper way to handle this situation. This is all very new to me as my monitoring and measurement equipment is usually traceable to NIST standards.

Can you validate the purity of your reference materials?

 

[RCW]

Can you validate the purity of your reference materials?

I don't know. I was given this unit by somebody else here at work. They told me there weren't any certification documents with it. I would have to contact the manufacturer of the unit to see if some kind of purity documentation is available.

Personally, I do not have a way to verify the purity at my workplace.

 

[JaxQC]

I would suggest going with both 1) validate the purity of your reference materials as mentioned previously as well as 2) the use of a "master". Some material that will not change over time (expire) and use a small sample periodically to verify that you get the same result. If you start to run out, do a comparison to the new batch of sample material and note the bias or shift.

 

[WalkingSeed]

With intrinsic standards you need to have it verified by a recognized body or participate in an inter-laboratory comparison program. This is mandatory only if you are pursuing ISO-17025 but the practice is valid and does verify the proper operation of your source.

I do not know if Ocean Optics is accredited by an ILAC or APLAC signatory but if they are, a C of C or some other statement of the quality / accuracy of the device from them should suffice. It is left up to you to determine the appropriate inter-laboratory comparison or recertification interval.