What can cause calibration drift in diagnostic equipment?

Calibration drift in diagnostic equipment occurs when the accuracy of the measurements begins to deviate over time, which can lead to incorrect readings and potentially impact patient safety. Aging components are a primary cause of this drift. As electronic and mechanical parts within the equipment age, they may experience wear and tear, changes in material properties, or degradation of performance. This deterioration can affect the precision and accuracy of the diagnostic outputs, necessitating recalibration to ensure that the equipment operates within the required specifications.

In contrast, while new software installation might lead to changes in how the system operates or reports data, it does not directly cause physical changes in the components themselves, which are primarily responsible for calibration drift. Similarly, improper cleaning procedures might temporarily affect a device's function but are not a direct cause of long-term calibration issues. Routine maintenance checks are intended to prevent calibration drift by identifying and correcting issues before they can impact performance, thus contributing to the longevity and reliability of the equipment rather than causing drift.