Accreditation & Quality
Why is Accreditation Important?
It ensures clients have robust, reliable, quality test results that are
more likely to stand up in court proceedings. Using a non-accredited
laboratory service puts at risk the outcome for such test results,
as their methods will not have been subject to the same rigorous, internationally
recognised and independently audited standards. Essentially, accreditation
gives our clients security and peace of mind.
What Types of Accreditation are Available?
UKAS's own website emphasises that
“You can be confident in the technical competence and the results
produced by testing and calibration laboratories if they hold UKAS accreditation
to ISO/IEC 17025. UKAS accredited certification of a supplier's management
system to ISO 9001 tells you that they have arrangements for managing
the quality of their product or service, but does not say anything about
their technical competence.”
“A laboratory certified to ISO 9001:2000 but without ISO/IEC 17025
should not be considered a suitable alternative. ”
To reach the international standard for drug testing, a laboratory’s processes
and various other business processes (such as customer feedback and contracting)
are subject to an annual audit to ISO/IEC 17025 standards. Many companies
have certification to ISO 9001 standards and it's important to note the
difference.
UKAS state: “You can be confident in the technical competence
and the results produced by testing and calibration laboratories if they
hold UKAS accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025. UKAS accredited certification
of a supplier’s management system to ISO 9001 tells you that they have
arrangements for managing the quality of their product or service, but
does not say anything about their technical competence.”
How Can I Check A Laboratory Meets The Required Standards?
In the analytical services industry, many companies do not run their own
laboratories, often sending the samples to a laboratory abroad for analysis.
It's therefore a good idea to confirm with the company that you use, where
your samples will be traveling for analysis, so that you can check the
laboratory meets your standards.
In order to ensure that the laboratory you choose to perform an analysis
meets internationally agreed standards for testing, you need to look out
for an international symbol of accreditation. Each country will have its
own accrediting body [in the UK it's UKAS], but if you're using a laboratory
based abroad make sure to look out for the ILAC symbol.
This ensures that each country's accrediting bodies have a mutual agreement
in conformance to international standards.
If the laboratory is based in the United Kingdom, it's easy to enquire
with UKAS, to confirm if the laboratory is accredited to ISO 17025. You
can do this online at www.ukas.org/testing/labsearch.asp
In other countries, there are varying accreditations to demonstrate such
capabilities. In France for example, a laboratory must have a COFRAC
certificate for testing hair; or in Germany, a TGA certificate.
The United Kingdom Accreditation Service [UKAS] is the sole national
accreditation body recognised by the Government to assess such standards.
UKAS periodically audit each of the laboratories whom they accredit
in order to ensure that the laboratories continue to demonstrate the
competence and performance capability required to meet international
agreed quality levels. Through the Mutual Recognition Agreement
with ILAC (International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation)
UKAS's quality mark is recognised throughout the world.
