What are Metrology Grade Components?

Metrology grade components are components that are specifically graded to be used for measurement purposes. Metrology is defined as the scientific study of measurement. Metrology grade components are accredited to be used for measurement applications by Metrology laboratories that ensure these instruments provide precise and accurate measurements. Accreditation by these laboratories means that the component provides measurements comparable to international metrology standards.

Calibration laboratories are generally responsible for calibrations of industrial instrumentation. Calibration laboratories are accredited and provide calibration services to industry firms, which provides a traceability link back to the national metrology institute. Since the calibration laboratories are accredited, they give companies a traceability link to national metrology standards.

Laboratories are also accredited by authoritative bodies that determine, by assessing the organization's personnel and management systems, that it is competent to provide its services. For international recognition, a country's accreditation body must comply with international requirements and is generally the product of international and regional cooperation. A laboratory is evaluated according to international standards such as ISO/IEC 17025 general requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories. It is the main ISO/IEC standard used by testing and calibration laboratories. In most countries, ISO/IEC 17025 is the standard for which most labs must hold accreditation in order to be deemed technically competent. In many cases, suppliers and regulatory authorities do not accept test or calibration results from a lab that is not accredited. To ensure objective and technically-credible accreditation, the accreditation bodies are independent of other national measurement system institutions. Examples of accreditation bodies include  The National Association of Testing Authorities in Australia and the United Kingdom Accreditation Service.

RF test and measurement equipment is necessary for the design, test, manufacture, and debug of radio frequency devices. Every device which uses RF, from TV and radios to Wi-Fi, cell phones, GPS, etc. was created using RF test and measurement instruments. Hence, to maintain the quality of RF devices it is important that they must through tests where their functioning is assessed by test & measurement devices. These test and measurement devices, thus, need to be accredited by calibration laboratories where they are tested for their precision and accuracy. Manufacturers of RF test and measurement instruments can rely on the accreditation of these laboratories to ensure that their products give results comparable to international metrology standards.