Medical Technology Associates: Vaporizer Calibration Verification

Vaporizer Calibration Verification

All anesthetic vaporizers must periodically have the calibrations verified by a professional as recommended by the manufacturer. These written recommendations will need to be available to inspectors and site visitors. When manufacturer recommendations are not available, the following schedules must be adopted:

Halothane vaporizers require an annual assessment because commercial halothane is reactive with metals and contains 0.01% thymol as a preservative, which is known to clog the internal vaporizer components.

Isoflurane vaporizers are not prone to clogging and, therefore, can ordinarily be serviced at a three-year interval. If an isoflurane vaporizer receives extensive use (e.g., greater than 500 hours per year) or is frequently moved to different locations, then the calibration verification must be performed on an annual basis. This calibration should be documented.