Direct Reading Particle Counters: Calibration Verification and Multiple Instrument Agreement via Bump Testing
- Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- Western Carolina Univ., Cullowhee, NC (United States)
We examined the calibration records of two direct reading instruments designated as condensation particle counters in order to determine the number of times they were found to be out of tolerance at annual manufacturer's recalibration. For both instruments were found to be out of tolerance more times than within tolerance. And, it was concluded that annual calibration alone was insufficient to provide operational confidence in an instrument's response. Thus, a method based on subsequent agreement with data gathered from a newly calibrated instrument was developed to confirm operational readiness between annual calibrations, hereafter referred to as bump testing. The method consists of measuring source particles produced by a gas grille spark igniter in a gallon-size jar. Sampling from this chamber with a newly calibrated instrument to determine the calibrated response over the particle concentration range of interest serves as a reference. Agreement between this reference response and subsequent responses at later dates implies that the instrument is performing as it was at the time of calibration. Side-by-side sampling allows the level of agreement between two or more instruments to be determined. This is useful when simultaneously collected data are compared for differences, i.e., background with process aerosol concentrations. A reference set of data was obtained using the spark igniter. The generation system was found to be reproducible and suitable to form the basis of calibration verification. Finally, the bump test is simple enough to be performed periodically throughout the calibration year or prior to field monitoring.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC05-00OR22725
- OSTI ID:
- 1287008
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, Vol. 12, Issue 7; ISSN 1545-9624
- Publisher:
- Taylor and FrancisCopyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Statistical Methods for Assessing Agreement Between two Methods of Clinical Measurement
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journal | February 1986 |
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