Calibration should be performed every 6-12 months.

• A. 6-12 months
• B. 1-2 months
• C. 2-3 years
• D. 5-6 weeks

Answer: (A)

Regular calibration keeps instrument readings accurate by correcting for gradual drift in sensor response and detector electronics. For most routine clinical chemistry instruments, manufacturer guidance and quality systems support calibrating every six to twelve months, which balances maintaining accuracy with practical workload. Calibrating within this window helps catch drift before it biases results, while doing it much more often can be unnecessary and burdensome. Waiting longer than twelve months risks accumulating unrecognized bias, compromising results. Therefore, six to twelve months is the sensible interval. Shorter intervals (like every month) are often excessive for routine devices, and longer intervals (years) are risky.