Autoclave Calibration Services in Goa – NABL Accredited

Comprehensive Service Offerings

Under our NABL scope, we offer specialized calibration for various configurations:

• Fixed-Point & Comparison Calibration: We calibrate the specific RTD Pt-100 sensors used in your autoclave against our high-precision Secondary Standard Platinum Resistance Thermometers (SPRT) using stable temperature baths.

• System Loop Calibration: This involves calibrating the Temperature Controller (PID), the Transmitter, and the Sensor as a single unit. This is crucial for verifying the "Displayed Value" vs. "True Value," ensuring the operator sees accurate data.

• Thermal Validation & Mapping: We deploy multi-channel data loggers to record temperature at 10-16 points simultaneously within the autoclave chamber (loaded and unloaded) to verify uniformity and compliance with NABL technical scopes for thermal enclosures.

• Time-Temperature Verification: We validate the timer functions of the autoclave controller to ensure the "Hold Time" (e.g., 15 minutes at 121°C) is accurately measured, a critical parameter for sterilization.

Types of NABL Temperature Calibration Services

Our service portfolio is designed to cover the entire lifecycle of your temperature sensors. We offer :

• Thermal Mapping (Temperature Distribution): We place multiple sensors inside the chamber to detect cold spots and ensure uniformity.

• Heat Penetration Studies: Verifying that the heat actually penetrates the load (liquid, porous, or solid) to achieve sterilization.

• F0 Value Calculation: Mathematical verification of lethality rates to confirm biological safety.

• Pressure Gauge & Sensor Calibration: Calibrating the onboard RTDs and pressure gauges against master standards.

• Cycle Optimization: Helping you adjust cycle times to save energy while ensuring sterility.

Get in touch

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Phone

+91 91676 71931

Email

support@vegacalibrations.com

Industry Segments We Serve

Pharmaceutical Manufacturing & Biotechnology

The pharmaceutical sector is the backbone of Goa's industrial landscape, particularly in hubs like Verna Industrial Estate and Ponda. For these manufacturers, autoclave calibration is not just a maintenance task; it is a regulatory mandate. Companies producing injectables, vaccines, and sterile formulations rely on autoclaves to sterilize vials, garments, and culture media. A deviation of even 0.5°C can lead to a "Non-Sterile" batch, resulting in millions of dollars in losses and severe FDA warning letters. Our services cater to these high-stakes environments by providing calibration with extremely low uncertainty, ensuring that the sterilization cycles meet the stringent requirements of the USFDA and MHRA. We understand that pharma companies in Tuem Industrial Estate and Bicholim operate 24/7, and our flexible scheduling ensures minimal downtime for your critical steam sterilizers.

Healthcare, Hospitals & Dental Clinics

From the super-specialty hospitals in Bambolim and Dona Paula to smaller nursing homes in Vasco da Gama, the healthcare sector depends on autoclaves to prevent Hospital-Acquired Infections (HAIs). Surgical instruments, dental tools, and operation theatre fabrics must be completely free of pathogens before reuse. If an autoclave's temperature gauge reads 121°C but the actual internal temperature is only 118°C, spores and bacteria may survive, posing a life-threatening risk to patients during surgery. Vega Calibrations provides NABL traceable certificates that satisfy the requirements of the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH). We work with biomedical engineers across Goa to ensure that every sterilizer, from large central sterile supply department (CSSD) units to small benchtop units, functions correctly to protect patient health.

Food Processing & Sea Food Export

Goa is a major hub for seafood export and processed foods, with facilities scattered across Kundaim Industrial Estate and Canacona. In the food industry, autoclaves (often called retorts) are used for the commercial sterilization of canned goods and pouches. This process, known as "retort processing," is essential to kill Clostridium botulinum spores, which produce a deadly toxin. The temperature distribution within the retort must be uniform to ensure that every can or pouch receives the same heat treatment. If the calibration is off, some cans might be under-processed (leading to spoilage and poisoning) while others are over-processed (destroying texture and taste). Our calibration services help food exporters meet the strict safety standards of the FSSAI and international bodies like the BRC (British Retail Consortium), ensuring that Goan food products remain safe for global consumption.

Microbiology & Testing Laboratories

Research institutes and commercial testing laboratories in Porvorim and Panjim utilize autoclaves daily for the preparation of culture media and the decontamination of biohazardous waste. In a microbiology lab, the "Sterility Assurance Level" is paramount. If the media used to grow bacteria is not properly sterilized due to a faulty autoclave, the test results will be contaminated, leading to false positives and compromised research data. Furthermore, before disposing of biological waste, it must be autoclaved to prevent environmental contamination. Vega Calibrations ensures that the autoclaves in these sensitive environments are performing accurately. We verify that the "Kill Cycle" parameters are genuinely met, providing researchers and lab managers with the confidence that their experiments and waste disposal protocols are scientifically sound and safe.

Industrial Use Cases

Ensuring Sterility Assurance Levels (SAL) in Pharma

In the pharmaceutical giants located in Verna, the primary use case for autoclave calibration is establishing the Sterility Assurance Level (SAL). Validation engineers need to calculate the F0 value, which represents the equivalent exposure time at 121°C to ensure spore destruction. If the autoclave's temperature sensors have drifted by even a fraction of a degree, the calculated F0 value will be incorrect. For example, if the sensor reads higher than the actual temperature, the cycle might terminate too early, releasing non-sterile drugs into the market. Vega Calibrations performs comprehensive thermal mapping using 16+ sensors to identify the "coldest point" in the chamber. We calibrate the controlling sensors against this cold spot to ensure that even the most difficult-to-reach area of the load receives the necessary thermal lethality, thereby guaranteeing the safety of the final drug product.

Surgical Instrument Safety & Infection Control

For a hospital in Margao, the use case revolves around patient safety and asset protection. Modern surgical tools, such as laparoscopic cameras and robotic surgery attachments, are expensive and heat-sensitive. They need to be sterilized, but they cannot withstand temperatures significantly higher than the standard 121°C or 134°C. If an autoclave is poorly calibrated and overshoots the temperature (e.g., reaching 138°C instead of 134°C), it can damage the delicate optics and electronics of these expensive instruments, costing the hospital lakhs in repairs. Conversely, under-temperature results in non-sterile tools and post-operative infections. Our calibration service verifies the "Overshoot" and "Undershoot" of the controller, tuning the PID parameters to ensure the temperature profile remains strictly within the safe window, protecting both the patient from infection and the hospital's assets from heat damage.

Regulatory Audit Readiness & Documentation

For export-oriented units in Sanguem and Dharbandora, the most pressing use case is passing international regulatory audits. When auditors from the USFDA or MHRA visit a facility, they scrutinize the "Validation Master Plan." They expect to see recent, traceable calibration certificates for every critical instrument, including autoclaves. A common finding in warning letters is "failure to calibrate equipment at appropriate intervals." Vega Calibrations acts as a compliance partner. We provide robust documentation, including uncertainty budgets, traceability to National Standards (SI Units), and raw data sheets. Our certificates are designed to stand up to the toughest scrutiny, proving that the facility has maintained control over its sterilization processes. This documentation allows Quality Assurance managers to present their records with confidence, avoiding 483 observations and maintaining their license to export.

Retort Validation for Canned Food Safety

In the seafood canning industry of Kundaim, the use case is preventing botulism while maintaining food texture. The "Thermal Process Schedule" for canning is determined by heat penetration studies. Our calibration services validate the sensors that control these retorts. We simulate the exact conditions of a "cook cycle." If the temperature sensors in a retort are reading 121°C but the actual steam temperature is 120°C, the "Cook Value" will be insufficient to kill the target pathogens. This is a critical food safety hazard. On the other hand, accurate calibration allows the manufacturer to optimize the cycle time—cooking the food just enough to be safe without turning the shrimp or fish into mush. By fine-tuning the temperature accuracy, we help food manufacturers in Goa maximize their yield and product quality while ensuring absolute safety for the consumer.

Compliance & Audit Requirements

In industrially advanced landscape, data integrity for temperature measurement is the key to passing inspections:

• For Pharmaceutical companies, compliance with 21 CFR Part 11 (Data Integrity) and Schedule M (GMP) is mandatory.

• The USFDA and WHO guidelines explicitly state that sterilization equipment must be validated annually and calibrated every 6 months using NABL/ISO 17025 accredited standards.

• For Hospitals, the NABH standards require regular calibration of CSSD equipment to maintain infection control protocols.

• In the Food Industry, ISO 22000 and HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) plans identify the autoclave/retort as a Critical Control Point (CCP).

• This means its failure can directly harm the consumer. Therefore, it must be monitored and calibrated. Vega Calibrations ensures your facility in Ponda, Panjim, or Mapusa meets these exact standards, providing certificates that are accepted globally by all major regulatory bodies.

Why Vega is Your Trusted Calibration Partner

At Vega, we don't just act as a vendor, we act as an extension of your Quality Assurance team.

• We understand the unique logistics of Goa, from the industrial hubs of Verna to the remote setups in Canacona.

• Unlike non-accredited local vendors, we bring NABL accreditation directly to your doorstep.

• Our engineers are trained to handle complex validation protocols and can troubleshoot controller issues on-site.

• We pride ourselves on On-Time Service; we know that a broken or uncalibrated autoclave means halted production or cancelled surgeries.

• With a presence across the country and a dedicated focus on the Western region, we ensure that whether you are in Bicholim or Mormugao, you receive the same high-standard, traceable, and professional service that global multinationals expect. We don't just stick a sticker; we verify your process.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Do you service autoclaves in remote industrial estates like Tuem or Sanguem?

A: Absolutely. Our team covers the entire state of Goa, ensuring that facilities in remote industrial estates receive the same quality service as those in the capital.

Q: What is the difference between Calibration and Validation?

A: Calibration checks if the temperature sensor is reading accurately against a standard. Validation (specifically Thermal Mapping) ensures that the entire chamber and the load inside it reach the required sterilization temperature uniformly. You need both.

Q: Can you help us determine the "Hot" and "Cold" spots?

A: Yes, our thermal mapping service specifically identifies the hottest and coldest points inside the chamber to determine the worst-case scenario.

Q: What is the difference between Controller Calibration and Thermal Mapping?

A: Controller calibration checks the accuracy of the sensor displaying the temperature. Thermal mapping uses multiple independent sensors (dataloggers) placed throughout the chamber to ensure the temperature is uniform in every corner, not just where the controller sensor is located.

"We run a sterile injectable facility in Verna Industrial Estate, and audit readiness is our top priority. Vega Calibrations handled our semi-annual autoclave thermal mapping with exceptional professionalism. Their reports were detailed, compliant with 21 CFR, and helped us sail through our recent MHRA inspection." — R. Fernandes, QA Manager, Leading Pharma Company, Verna, Goa

"As a multi-specialty hospital in Panjim, we cannot afford downtime in our CSSD. Vega’s team was prompt, arriving the next day to calibrate our three large steam sterilizers. Their engineers were knowledgeable and ensured our documentation for NABH was perfect." — Dr. A. Naik, Medical Director, Panjim, Goa

"Our seafood processing unit in Kundaim requires strict retort compliance for export to the EU. Vega Calibrations helped us identify cold spots in our older autoclaves that we didn't know existed. Their service has improved our product safety significantly." — S. Gawas, Plant Head, Food Processing Unit, Kundaim, Goa

Customer Testimonials