If daily standard counts are out of tolerance after a re-run, what is the recommended action?

• A. Increase sampling frequency
• B. Replace gauge
• C. Ignore the problem
• D. Recalibrate gauge

Answer: (B)

Daily standard counts are used to verify that the gauge is reading accurately. If, after a re-run, those counts fall outside the allowed range, the instrument isn’t delivering reliable measurements. Using a gauge that is out of tolerance can introduce bias into all subsequent tests, which compromises data quality and project decisions. When this happens, the safest and most reliable action is to replace the gauge so future measurements are trustworthy. Recalibration might not fully correct the issue if the gauge has worn or drifted, and attempting to salvage it risks continuing with inaccurate data. Increasing sampling frequency doesn’t fix the underlying measurement error, and ignoring the problem is not acceptable.