Frequency of Metal Detection Calibration for HACCP verification

What does metal detection calibration frequency and timed checks need to be for USDA justification of HACCP verification? 

What does metal detection calibration frequency and timed checks need to be for USDA justification of HACCP verification? 

Dear cily,

i anticipate you are referring to the validation component within "verification". I doubt that the USDA have a standard for answering yr query. No doubt US posters will correct me if incorrect.

Do you mean calibration of the electronics etc, eg by MD engineers, or calibration such as validating the detector sensitivity is adequate during production.?

If the latter, from the numerous threads on this forum, the (generic) choice typically depends on how much product you are prepared to recall/recheck in the event of a failure in the routine "calibration". Generic answers have ranged, from memory, from every 5mins to at least every 12 hours. Some people like to gamble more than others.

One might logically try an initially quite short interval followed by an expansion if no calibration failures detected (or product defects of course) with a maximum as per previous comment.

Rgds / Charles.C

Hi, clly, and welcome to the forums. 

Process control instruments should be proofed to traceable standards annually at a minimum per good GMP (lacking sufficient codified agreement in the U.S. of course). Take a pick as to the methodology; manufacturer, customer, or regulatory guidance. This would be a validation step. 

For verification, again this is a topic of much debate and lack of solid consensus. I would at least record a visual during preop check for presence of the detector on the line, and that it's functioning by way of your test standards per HACCP plan, and then at minimum three times per shift, product change, or changes to setup, and a post-op check.  As Charles C. has kindly pointed out you should risk assess for your process. A calibration check failure could be a simple trace back in house or a very lengthy (and costly) recall procedure.

Thanks for your input, So equipment history will justify our critical limit, correct?

Thanks for your input, So equipment history will justify our critical limit, correct?

Dear city,

It is possible you are confusing haccp terminologies.

Critical limit is not the same as validation frequency. It further involves yr (or perhaps yr customer's/legislatory) desired/achievable detector sensitivity, eg due to the interpretation of what size of metal contaminant is a significant hazard.

The achievable detector sensitivity relates to factors like instrument performance / aperture / product matrix, type/geometry of contaminant, etc.

i suggest you have a quick look at a few of the many threads here on validation of MDs and/or MD sensitivities.

Rgds / Charles.C