Audiometers must be inspected according to ANSI standards, and what must be maintained in permanent records?

• A. Calibration records
• B. Procurement records
• C. Service logs
• D. Training records

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is that the accuracy of the audiometer must be verifiable over time. ANSI standards require that an audiometer be calibrated and that those calibration results be kept in permanent records. This creates a lasting trail showing the device continues to meet the specified performance criteria and that the tests it produces are reliable.

Permanent calibration records should document key details: when the calibration was done, who performed it, which instrument and settings were checked, the calibration results showing that the outputs fall within accepted tolerances, and when the next calibration is due. Keeping this information permanently allows audits and inspections to confirm ongoing compliance and protects the validity of test results.

Procurement records, service logs, and training records are important for other reasons, but they do not fulfill the requirement to preserve evidence of the instrument’s calibration accuracy over time.