What is it? Why is it important?

Equipment maintenance are reoccurring checks (e.g. usually yearly) to ensure biobanking equipment performs as intended.

 

Equipment maintenance checks can include:

  • Calibration tests for accuracy, such as the ability for:
    • Pipets to aspirate an exact amount of liquid
    • Centrifuges to rotate and maintain a given preset speed(s)
    • Laboratory scales to correctly weigh products to the smallest mg
  • Functional tests, such as:
    • Freezers able to reach a minimum predefined temperature (e.g. -80°C)
    • Alarms able to respond within a given timeline upon being triggered
    • Laminar hood blower able to reach maximum expected hair flow
    • Emergency generators in the event of electricity blackout

 

Guaranteeing optimal equipment performance requires that monitoring systems continuously run in the background (e.g. 24 hours/ 7 days a week). Upon excursions from the norm (e.g. changes in temperature, humidity, CO2 levels) an alarm is triggered notifying a response team. Thus, sensors record and relay information back to a control center (e.g. person or machine), initiating follow-up activities.

What do I need to do?

Based on your equipment:

  • Establish a calibration and maintenance plan (e.g. write an Equipment Surveillance (ES) manual, SOP or WI)
  • In the plan include manufacturer or technical experts able to provide support in the calibration and maintenance of equipment
  • Reappraise and adapt ES schedules to ensure that equipment maintains optimal performance over time
  • Label equipment that has undergone maintenance
  • Keep an ES log book (e.g. include findings and improvement measures)
  • Train staff on ES procedures

 

Based on risk-assessment, define critical equipment that requires a high level of ES, due to far reaching consequences in the event of equipment failure. Additional activities for critical equipment include:

  • Ongoing surveillance systems with access to a response team 24 hours / 7 days a week
  • The definition of applicable emergency plans (e.g. freezer emergency plan)
  • The availability of back-up equipment in the event equipment downtime

More

The required calibration and maintenance frequency is provided by the equipment manufacturer. Other aspects that should be taken into consideration are:

  • The frequency of use
  • Defined risks, based on the seriousness of potential consequences due to equipment malfunction or breakdown

Where can I get help?

Your local CTU can support you with experienced staff regarding this topic

The Swiss Biobanking Platform (SBP) can provide you with support on this topic.

SBP Documents

SOPs, Forms and Templates – see in particular

  • Equipment calibration record
  • Equipment maintenance record

References

ISO 20387:2018 Biotechnology - Biobanking (access liable to cost) - General Requirements for Biobanking – see in particular section

  • 6.3 Facilities / dedicated areas and environmental conditions
Abbreviations
  • CTU – Clinical Trials Unit
  • ES – Equipment Surveillance
  • ISO – International Organization for Standardization
  • SBP – Swiss Biobanking Platform
  • SOP – Standard Operating Procedures
  • WI – Working Instruction
Development ↦ Biobanking ↦ Biobank Set-Up ↦ Equipment Maintenance
Study
Basic

Provides some background knowledge and basic definitions

Basic Monitoring
Basic Drug or Device
Concept

Starts with a study idea

Ends after having assessed and evaluated study feasibility

Concept Statistic Methodology
Concept Drug or Device
Development

Starts with confidence that the study is feasible

Ends after having received ethics and regulatory approval

Development Drug or Device
Set-Up

Starts with ethics and regulatory approval

Ends after successful study initiation

Set-Up Ethics and Laws
Set-Up Statistic Methodology
Set-Up Quality and Risk
Set-Up Drug or Device
Conduct

Starts with participant recruitment

Ends after the last participant has completed the last study visit

Conduct Statistic Methodology
Conduct Drug or Device
Completion

Starts with last study visit completed

Ends after study publication and archiving

Completion Statistic Methodology
Completion Drug or Device
Current Path (click to copy): Development ↦ Biobanking ↦ Biobank Set-Up ↦ Equipment Maintenance

Please note: the Easy-GCS tool is currently under construction.