Equipment qualification is a systematic procedure, which ensures that suitable equipment
is purchased and that it remains fit for its chosen purpose throughout its operating life. whereas calibration using traceable standards or reference materials is an important factor in
obtaining accurate results, which are consistent with measurements made in other
laboratories. Qualification is the responsibility of both the vendor and user; and as
control of the instrument moves from vendor to user, so this balance shifts more towards
the user. However, the manufacturer is not totally devolved of all responsibility, and is
still required to prove the use of “suitable reference materials” for establishing the
validity of the initial calibration of the system.