System validation and density fluctuation calibration of phase contrast imaging (PCI) on an HL-2A tokamak are presented. Signals from different channels show not only a pronounced modulation of an incident laser beam induced by a sound wave, but also an excellent magnification and low image distortion of optics. The frequency-wavenumber spectrum is achieved by using two-dimensional Fourier transform of time series signals. The conversion coefficient between detected signal amplitude and chord integral plasma density fluctuation is 2.35 × 10¹³ m ²/mV, which promises a suitable signal level at the order of volts of the PCI in typical HL-2A discharges.