PT guide
Getting started with your PT
Everything a new customer needs, from choosing a program to downloading the final report. Follow the steps in order, or jump to the one you're on.
Step 1 · Your lab
Choose a PT program and request it
Browse the PT programs and choose the one that matches the instruments your lab calibrates. Each program page lists the kit, the test points and what your lab needs to run it.
Pricing: $695 per program, which includes one participant, plus $100 for each additional participant, plus shipping. For example, a program with three participants is $895 plus shipping. An optional expedite (quick turnaround) is $150. Custom PTs are quoted separately.
A participant is each technician or measurement system you want evaluated. Every participant measures the same kit and gets their own scores.
- New customer: use the Request a PT form. Choose the program, number of participants and preferred test date, enter your company, contact and shipping address, agree to the kit care and return terms, then review and submit.
- Already have a portal login: sign in and click Request a PT program on your dashboard. If you use the public form with an email that already has a login, it asks you to sign in instead.
- Shipping: leave the shipping account blank and Lake Balance ships on its own carrier account and bills the shipping charge to you on your invoice. Or enter your own UPS or FedEx account and the shipment is billed to that account.
- Your preferred test date is a request. Lake Balance confirms the schedule.
Step 2 · Your lab
Create your account and sign in
When you submit your first request, the portal creates a login for the email address you entered and sends you an Activate account email. Click the link, choose a password (at least 8 characters), and then sign in with your email and password. The activation link expires after 7 days.
If Lake Balance set up your login for you, use the setup link we send to choose your password.
Didn't get the email, or the link expired? Email pt@lakebalance.com and we'll send a new one. Forgot your password later? Use Forgot password on the sign-in page.
- Each participant does not need their own login. One login enters results for every participant on the PT: the results form has a separate tab for each participant, with their own readings, uncertainties and signature.
- If a colleague would like their own login for your facility, ask us and we'll add them. Everyone with access to your facility sees the same PTs, documents and messages.
- If your company has several facilities, one login can be linked to all of them. You choose the facility when you request a PT.
Step 3 · Your lab
Receive the invoice by email and pay
Once your request is confirmed, Lake Balance sends a QuickBooks invoice by email to the PT's main contact (or to your company email if there is no contact). The invoice shows your Test ID, program and number of participants.
Pay using the invoice email, or open your PT in the portal and use the invoice link in the Next step box (View and pay invoice when online payment is available). The portal picks up the payment from QuickBooks automatically and shows the invoice as paid.
Payment is required before the kit ships. The kit ships the same day payment is received.
Step 4 · Your lab
Receive the kit
One kit ships for each PT. Every participant at your site tests that same unit, one after another; you don't receive a separate kit for each participant.
Follow the shipment from your PT page: under Your kit, click Check shipment tracking.
- When the kit arrives, check every item against the kit's contents list and instruction sheet. Report anything missing or damaged to pt@lakebalance.com before you ship the kit back.
- Download the Instructions PDF and Worksheet PDF from the Documents section of your PT page.
- Return the kit within one week of receiving it, so plan your testing as soon as it arrives. At Lake Balance's discretion, a $295 fee may be charged for each additional week.
Step 5 · Your lab
Perform the test and record your results
Follow the program instructions and use the same standards, procedure and environment you use for customer work. Each participant measures every test point and records the reading and its expanded uncertainty (k=2). You can record them on the Worksheet PDF, along with the temperature, humidity and date performed, before entering them in the portal.
- Scale and balance PTs: calibrate the scale with your own weights as you would for a customer, then weigh the PT weights at the listed test points. At each point, report your scale's calibration uncertainty, the uncertainty you would state for that scale reading on a customer certificate. Do not report the uncertainty of the weights.
- Force PT: apply each tension load with your own force standard and procedure, and report the indicated value and your expanded uncertainty at each point.
- Other programs: follow the program instructions and report the reading and expanded uncertainty at each listed point.
Step 6 · Your lab
Enter your results in the portal
Sign in, open your PT and click Enter measurements. For each participant tab, enter the Reading and Uncertainty (k=2) for every measurement point, or mark a point Not tested. Add the ambient conditions and date performed, then sign electronically for each participant.
Click Save draft at any time and come back later. When every participant is complete and signed, click Submit complete results. You can also upload your uncertainty budget or other supporting documents under Documents (PDF, PNG or JPEG, up to 5 MB each).
Step 7 · Lake Balance
Get your pass/fail result
Lake Balance reviews your submitted results the same day you submit them. As soon as they are reviewed, your PT page shows Your PT result: Pass or Fail overall, plus Pass or Fail for each participant with how many of their points passed. It appears right away, before the kit is on its way back. Your dashboard and My Tests list show the result too.
Each point is scored with an En number: the difference between your result and the Lake Balance reference value, divided by the combined expanded uncertainties of both. A point passes when the absolute En is less than 1.
A participant passes when every scored point passes, and the PT passes when every participant does. The En value for each point, and which points passed or failed, come with the final report, released once the kit's return shipment is in transit (step 8).
Need to correct a value you already submitted? Use the Contact our team link under Submitted measurements, or send us a message on the PT.
Step 8 · Your lab
Ship the kit back and enter the return tracking
Pack the kit in its original packaging, following the packing instructions, and ship it to Lake Balance Calibration Solutions, 7722 Metric Drive, Mentor, OH 44060.
- If your PT page shows Print return label, Lake Balance has created a return label for you. Print it and attach it to the package; the portal follows that shipment automatically.
- Using your own label: declare an adequate value, then on your PT page under Your kit, find Using your own return label?, choose the carrier (UPS, FedEx, USPS, DHL Express, DHL eCommerce or Canada Post), enter the tracking number and click Save return tracking.
- Using another carrier or a local drop-off? Message us to arrange the return.
The final report is released as soon as the carrier shows the return shipment in transit. You don't need to wait for the kit to arrive back at Lake Balance.
Step 9 · Your lab
Download your final report
When the report is released, your PT page shows Download report in the Next step box, and the Reviewed results table shows the En value and Pass/Fail for every point. Click Download report to save the PDF.
Your released reports stay in the portal. Find them any time under Reports ready on your dashboard or in My Tests. Lake Balance closes the PT once the kit is back.
Messaging Lake Balance
Every PT page has a Messages section near the bottom. Type your question or update and click Send message. Lake Balance is notified and replies in the same place, and you get an email with a link when we reply.
Everyone at your facility with portal access to the PT can see the conversation. Messages are text only; upload files under Documents instead. Your dashboard shows a badge on any PT with new messages.
You can also email pt@lakebalance.com or call (440) 428-3993.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a PT cost?
$695 per program, which includes one participant, plus $100 for each additional participant, plus shipping. An optional expedite is $150. Custom PTs are quoted separately.
Does each participant need their own login?
No. One login enters results for every participant, each on their own tab in the results form. If a colleague wants their own login for your facility, ask us and we'll add them.
Do we get a kit for each participant?
No. One kit ships per PT and every participant at your site tests that same unit.
When does the kit ship?
The same day payment is received. Payment is required before the kit ships.
How long can we keep the kit?
Please return it within one week of receiving it. At Lake Balance's discretion, a $295 fee may be charged for each additional week.
For a scale or balance PT, which uncertainty do we report?
Your scale's calibration uncertainty at each test point, not the uncertainty of the weights.
How is pass/fail decided?
Each point is scored with an En number comparing your result with our reference value, using both expanded uncertainties. A point passes when the absolute En is less than 1.
When do we get our pass/fail result and the final report?
Your pass/fail result shows on your PT page as soon as Lake Balance reviews your results, which we do the same day you submit them. The final report, with the En value for every point, is released once the kit's return shipment shows in transit with the carrier.
Can we save our results and finish later?
Yes. Click Save draft at any time. Nothing is sent for review until you click Submit complete results.
We made a mistake in submitted results. What now?
Use the Contact our team link under Submitted measurements on your PT page, or send us a message on the PT.
Where do we upload our uncertainty budget?
Under Documents on your PT page. PDF, PNG or JPEG files up to 5 MB each.
My activation link expired. How do I get in?
Activation links last 7 days. Email pt@lakebalance.com for a new one. If you already set a password and forgot it, use Forgot password on the sign-in page.
Our company has several facilities. Do we need several logins?
No. One login can be linked to several facilities. You see every linked facility's PTs and choose the facility when requesting a PT.