What is a NIST Traceable Device?

NIST is a federal agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce responsible for developing and maintaining standards for most measurements used in everyday life such as temperature, time, weight, volume, and many others. NIST traceability is an important tool used by U.S. food processing facilities to ensure accurate temperature measurement and compliance with regulations.

The traceability applies to the device itself such as a thermometer, as well as the device(s) used to test the thermometer. A device is considered “NIST traceable” when its calibration can be traced back to a measurement standard held at NIST through a documentation trail. NIST doesn’t typically perform the calibration, that’s done by a manufacturer such as Tel-Tru or other testing lab. The testing is done by comparing the device such as a thermometer or calibrator against a reference item that has an unbroken paper trail leading back to a NIST SRM (standard reference material). As a result, the device is "NIST traceable".

Many regulations require devices to be recertified periodically to ensure accuracy and keep the NIST traceability current. For more information on devices available with a NIST certification, click here, or contact one of our experts at 800.232.5335 or info@teltru.com.