Testing and calibration laboratory accreditation requires conformance to the
international standard EN ISO/IEC 17025,
which defines general requirements for the competence of testing and
calibration laboratories. This standards establish both management and
technical requirements.
Accredited tests and calibrations
guarantee accurate and reliable results for a defined set of tests, and ensure
that calibrations are carried out in a reliable, competent, consistent and
impartial manner and to the correct degree of accuracy.
In their daily life, consumers depend
on reliable analyses and tests such as food product testing (both from food
manufacturing companies and catering establishments), environmental testing,
water quality testing, testing of electrical appliances and medical diagnostic
analyses. Accredited testing laboratories perform such analysis and tests in a
reliable and consistent manner.
Measuring instruments of manufacturers
and service providers have to be calibrated in order to allow correct
measurements. Accredited calibration laboratories execute this task with the
required precision and traceability to the International System of Units (SI).
Accreditation of a testing laboratory means:
- validity and appropriateness of test
methods
- suitability and maintenance of test equipment
- proper sampling, handling and transportation of test items
- quality control and assurance of test data
Accreditation of a calibration laboratory means:
- metrological traceability of calibration result
- traceability of operations and recordings
- measurements are performed according to validated procedures
- reliability of standards and measurement instruments
What if we are requested to certify our laboratory to ISO 9001?
The Joint ISO-ILAC-IAF Communiqué on
the Management Systems Requirements of ISO/IEC 17025:2005, General Requirements
for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories, was originally
signed on 18 June 2005. The Communiqué was revised in January 2009 to refer to
ISO 9001:2008 rather than ISO 9001:2000. This has been revised
again in April 2017 to make reference to ISO 9001:2015.
This communiqué’ states the following:
“A laboratory's fulfillment of the
requirements of ISO/IEC 17025 means the laboratory meets both the technical
competence requirements and management system requirements that are necessary
for it to consistently deliver technically valid test results and calibrations.
The management system requirements in ISO/IEC 17025 are written in language
relevant to laboratory operations and operate generally in accordance with the
principles of ISO 9001.”
It was produced to relieve the confusion caused by the perception that
accredited laboratories do not operate a recognised quality management system.
Applying
for accreditation
Information on the Accreditation process can be found in the guides section.
Application forms for the accreditation
of your laboratory may be found in the downloads section.
Participation
in Proficiency Testing
In order to ensure the quality of test
and calibration results, the laboratory has to monitor the validity of tests
and calibration undertaken. One of the methods to perform this monitoring
is by means of participation in interlaboratory comparisons or proficiency
testing programmes. For further information regards interlaboratory
comparisons and proficiency testing schemes, one may consult the NAB-MALTA
policy ATG10 on Proficiency Testing and Interlaboratory Comparisons in the Downloads section or visit the
links section.
Note: All
European (EN) and International (ISO, IEC) standards are available for viewing
or purchasing from the Standards and Metrology Institute of the Malta
Competition and Consumer Affairs Authority.