Chapter 3 · Maintenance

A maintenance programme must be documented for every piece of equipment. Maintenance types: daily (cleaning, checking function), weekly, monthly, and annual (service by qualified engineer). Maintenance must be documented on the day it is performed. If maintenance is overdue, the equipment must not be used for patient testing until maintenance is completed and documented.

Practical example

A centrifuge maintenance log shows the monthly maintenance is 3 weeks overdue. Good practice: The section head immediately removes the centrifuge from service, completes and documents the maintenance, verifies function, and then returns it to service. A nonconformity is raised for the overdue maintenance. Poor practice: The section head makes a note to do it ‘when things are less busy’ and continues using the centrifuge.

What this means for your practice: Overdue maintenance is a nonconformity. Equipment with overdue maintenance must not be used for patient testing. No exceptions.