Why Your AED Needs Annual Testing (And Why the Green Light Isn't Enough)

Your AED passed its self-test this morning. The green light is on. Everything looks fine.

That's not the same as being compliant, documented, and ready for a real cardiac arrest.

An AED's built-in self-test checks battery charge and basic circuit continuity. It does not verify that the device will deliver the correct energy at the correct time. It does not check pad electrode integrity under load. It does not produce a calibration certificate that your insurer, your WHS auditor, or a South Australian compliance inspector will accept as evidence of maintenance.

This is why annual AED testing by a qualified biomedical engineer exists — and why it's increasingly not optional.

What the Self-Test Actually Checks

Modern AEDs perform automated daily or weekly self-tests that check:

• Battery charge level
• Basic circuit continuity
• Pad connection status
• Internal memory and software integrity

These checks are valuable for basic status monitoring. They will catch a completely dead battery or a disconnected pad set. What they won't catch:

• Whether the capacitor charges to and delivers the correct energy level
• Whether the shock waveform meets the manufacturer's specification
• Whether the ECG analysis algorithm is functioning correctly
• Pad electrode degradation that hasn't yet tripped the connection alarm
• Cabinet and signage condition
• Whether pad and battery expiry dates have been checked against records

A green status light tells you the AED passed its own basic check. It doesn't tell you the device will perform correctly when it matters most.

What Annual Testing Actually Involves

A proper annual AED inspection carried out by a NATA-certified biomedical engineer covers:

1. Full functional test — the device is tested under load to verify it charges to the correct energy level and delivers a shock within specification
2. Shock waveform verification — confirms the biphasic waveform meets the manufacturer's clinical specification
3. ECG analysis verification — confirms the rhythm analysis algorithm is functioning correctly
4. Pad inspection and expiry check — physical inspection of electrode integrity and confirmation of expiry date against the compliance record
5. Battery condition and expiry check — battery voltage under load, not just resting charge, and confirmation of expiry date
6. Self-test log review — review of the device's internal self-test history for any flagged anomalies
7. Cabinet and signage inspection — confirming the cabinet alarm functions, the cabinet door closes correctly, and ILCOR-standard signage is in place
8. NATA-certified calibration certificate issued — the documented output of the inspection, dated and signed by the responsible engineer

Why the Certificate Matters

The calibration certificate is the piece of paper that protects you.

If a cardiac arrest occurs at your premises and the AED fails to perform — or performs but the outcome is poor — one of the first things investigators, insurers, and lawyers will ask for is your maintenance records. A dated NATA-certified calibration certificate from a qualified biomedical engineer demonstrates that you exercised reasonable duty of care. Without it, you are relying on a device self-test log that any competent legal team will argue is insufficient evidence of maintenance.

Most public liability insurers now specifically ask about AED maintenance documentation as part of their commercial property risk assessment. Some are beginning to make annual certified testing a condition of cover. The trend is clear — a self-test log alone will not be sufficient for much longer.

The SA AED Act and Annual Testing

The South Australian Automated External Defibrillators (Public Access) Act 2022, in full effect from 1 January 2026, requires commercial buildings over 600m² to maintain a compliant AED. Compliance is not a one-time installation — it requires ongoing maintenance, registration, and documentation.

Annual testing with documented calibration certification is the standard expected by SA Health in assessing compliance. Installing an AED and never having it professionally tested does not meet the spirit or letter of the Act.

For organisations outside South Australia, the WHS framework is moving in the same direction. SafeWork NSW, WorkSafe Queensland, and equivalent bodies are progressively strengthening their position on AED maintenance documentation as part of first-aid provision requirements.

How Often Should an AED Be Tested?

Annual testing is the standard. The Australian Resuscitation Council, major AED manufacturers including Philips and ZOLL, and most state ambulance services recommend annual inspection by a qualified technician as the minimum maintenance interval.

Additional testing should be triggered by:

• Any deployment of the AED in a real or training scenario
• Physical damage to the unit, cabinet, or pads
• Any self-test failure or status indicator anomaly
• Pad or battery replacement
• Relocation of the device to a new site or environment

What AEDs Does This Apply To?

Annual testing applies to all TGA-registered AEDs regardless of brand or age. Vectr Medical's testing service covers:

• Philips HeartStart (HS1, FRx, MRx) — Authorised Service Provider
• ZOLL (AED 3, AED Plus, AED Pro) — Authorised Service Provider
• Defibtech (Lifeline, VIEW, PRO, ECG)
• HeartSine Samaritan (350P, 360P, 500P)
• Most other TGA-registered AED brands by arrangement

As Authorised Service Providers for Philips and ZOLL, we carry the manufacturer-level diagnostic capability and access to technical service documentation that non-authorised technicians don't have. That's a meaningful difference when the test involves verifying shock waveform against manufacturer specification.

What Does It Cost?

Vectr Medical's AED testing and compliance service is available as a single-device inspection or as part of a multi-device managed program for organisations with multiple AEDs across sites. Contact us for pricing on multi-device and multi-site programs.

To contextualise the cost: a single AED costs $2,099–$3,690. Annual testing is a fraction of that. The cost of an AED that fails to perform in a cardiac arrest — in legal liability, insurance, and human terms — is incalculable.

Building Your Compliance File

Every AED should have a compliance file containing:

• Purchase receipt and TGA registration confirmation
• Installation date and location record
• State ambulance service registration confirmation
• Annual NATA-certified testing certificates — keep every year's certificate, not just the most recent
• Pad and battery replacement records with dates and batch numbers
• Any incident records where the device was deployed or inspected outside the annual schedule

This file is what you produce to demonstrate compliance to an insurer, a WHS auditor, or a regulator. Without it, your AED is an asset without a service history.

Book Annual Testing with Vectr Medical

Our biomedical engineering team services AEDs for Queensland Ambulance Service, NSW Ambulance, the Australian Federal Police, and the Australian Defence Force. We carry NATA accreditation and Authorised Service Provider status for Philips and ZOLL.

Annual testing includes a full functional inspection, shock delivery verification, pad and battery check, cabinet and signage assessment, and a NATA-certified calibration certificate dated and signed by the responsible engineer.

Book AED annual testing →  |  Read the complete AED maintenance guide →  |  SA AED legislation guide →