Final answer:
Accuracy checks for dose calibrators and GM counters should be done regularly according to internal protocols and guidelines. In a pharmaceutical context, ensuring both accuracy and precision is crucial for quality control. Routine checks are often performed daily or before each use.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a quality control chemist checks the accuracy of equipment such as dose calibrators and GM (Geiger-Müller) counters, it should be done regularly according to institutional standards set by regulatory bodies or internal protocols. The accuracy of dose calibrators is typically checked before each use and at regular intervals, which may be daily, weekly, monthly, or as defined by the institution's protocols and regulatory guidelines. Similarly, for Geiger-Müller (GM) counters, routine checks are often performed daily or before each use to ensure proper functioning and accurate measurement of radiation levels.
For example, in the context of a pharmaceutical quality control setting, a chemist is tasked with checking the accuracy and precision of dispensing machines for cough syrup. If the machines are dispensing consistent volumes, but those volumes are not what is expected (10 ounces or 296 mL), the machine is precise but not accurate. Conversely, if the volumes are close to the target but vary widely, the machine is accurate but not precise. Ensuring both accuracy and precision is crucial for maintaining quality and safety standards, as shown by the results obtained for dispenser #3, which demonstrates both high accuracy and precision in dispensing cough syrup.
Intra and interday precision and accuracy assessments are conducted through multiple validation runs. Factors like the effect of dilution and extraction recovery assessments of the parent drug or metabolites and the internal standard are also crucial in judging the performance of equipment. Moreover, when null measurements are being made, the accuracy of those measurements can be affected by several factors, and using a digital device more sensitive than a galvanometer might improve accuracy.