Within MeDD various primary standards are developed for the calibration of infusion devices and flow meters. These standards, or calibration facilities, have been developed for liquid flow rates at ambient pressure and temperature. The flow rate range per standard varies somewhat; the combined flow rate range is between 1 nl/min up to 10 ml/min.

Goal of the intercomparison is to validate the various standards by means of comparing the calibration result for a so-called transfer standard. This transfer standard (in this case a flow meter based on the Coriolis principle) is calibrated by all labs after which the calibration results are compared. Four labs of the MeDD consortium already participated in the intercomparison, however now also VSL and Bronkhorst participated as a supplement of the main intercomparison. These measurements show that the standards of VSL and Bronkhorst are consistent with the harmonized value earlier found. Click here for the results of the supplement comparison and here for the main intercomparison.

Defining the regions (1 – 1000) μl/min as microflow and (1 – 1000) nl/min as nanoflow, this white paper describes various principles for a primary realization of the measurement. In this document we briefly describe some common principles for flow rate calibrations. Typically, the gravimetric approach is used for microflow rates. For nanoflow rates potential methods are based on volumetric expansion and optic measurement of the dispensed volume.

The second European Flow Measurement Workshop for ultrasonic flowmeters and Coriolis was held in Sintra from 25-27 March 2014. This event organized by the Dutch Metrology Institute (VSL) and the Colorado Engineering Experiment Station Inc. (CEESI), was attended by about 160 participants. The goal of this event focused on the dissemination of new technologies and developments associated with the measurement of fluid flow through the use of ultrasonic and Coriolis flowmeters. One of the presentations was within the framework of this project (MeDD, funded by the EMRP - European Metrology Research Programme) and given by Elsa Batista (IPQ, Portugal). This presentation focused on the development of a gravimetric standard for micro flow rates.

Within MeDD various primary standards are developed for the calibration of infusion devices and flow meters. These standards, or calibration facilities, have been developed for liquid flow rates at ambient pressure and temperature. The flow rate range per standard varies somewhat; the combined flow rate range is between 1 nl/min up to 10 ml/min.

Goal of the intercomparison is to validate the various standards by means of comparing the calibration result for a so-called transfer standard. This transfer standard (in this case a flow meter based on the Coriolis priciple) is calibrated by all labs after which the calibration resuls are compared. For most flow points there is a good comparison between labs, click here to view the results.

Calibration and use of syringe pumps, Elsa Batista, Nelson Almeida, Eduarda Filipe, Anselmo Costa, in proceedings of 'Congrès international de métrologie', Paris, France, October 2013.

Abstract. There are several types of infusion instruments used for drug delivery, e.g. syringe pumps and infusion pumps, with different capacities according to their use and applied therapeutic. In order to ensure the traceability of these flow and volume measuring equipment is necessary to use suitable calibration methods and standards. Current calibration services of microflow do not go below 16 μL/min (4 % uncertainty), whereas the lowest comparison between primary standards has been of 100 mL/min, hence, below the latter flow rate, the primary standards have not been validated. Also there are several influence factors in the use of drug delivery devices that are not yet studied in detail. Therefore, a need for the development of a research project in the scope of the EMRP - European Metrology Research Programme, was identified. In order to validate the microflow gravimetric calibration method, developed at the Volume Laboratory of the Portuguese Institute for Quality in the scope of the participation in the EMRP project – Metrology for drug delivery (MeDD), several infusion instruments supplied by the Hospital Garcia de Orta/ Neonatology Service were tested at different volumes and rates. From the obtained results, it can be implemented several improvements for the use and calibration procedures.

Click here for the full proceedings and here for the poster presentation.

Click here to read about the first prototype for nFlow rates for gas flow rates.

Click here to view a presentation on the design and realization of a primary standard for nFlow rates for water.

The calibration facility of CETIAT has been presented at the third European Conference on Microfluidics: Microfluidics Conference 2012 (µFlu’12). Click here to read the proceedings of this presentation.

One of the goals of this project is to develop a best practice guide for safe and sound usage of infusion devices, in particular for multi-infusion. For this best practice guide to cover the most important aspects we need input from physicians, nurses, pharmasists and anyone else involved with (multi-)infusion. If you feel it is important to have a best practice guide for (multi-)infusion and you think you can contribute to the information we need, please take some moments of your time and fill in this survey. Please feel free to forward this survey to anyone you think could be interested.

The second progress meeting has been held at METAS (Switzerland). Here the general progress has been discussed regarding the primary standards and (metrological) assessment of (commercial) flow meters and drug delivery devices. Furthermore, a workshop focussing at flow meters for micro flow rates has been held. Here the latest developments in micro flow meter technology have been discussed as well as the potential relevance of the assessment of flow meters. Contact us in case you want to know more regarding the assesment of flow meters and drug delivery devices.

The standard for micro flow rates by IPQ has been presented at the 5^th National meeting of the Portuguese society of metrolog. Click here for the abstract and here for the presentation (Portugese).

The standard for micro flow rates by IPQ has also been presented at the 4th meeting of Portugese quality researchers. Click here for the presentation (Portugese).