Path to accreditation

The purpose of an assessment of a laboratory is to judge whether it is competent to undertake certain specified tests and measurements and has management policies and practices that are likely to produce reliable test data each time a test is performed. The fundamental document defining the requirements against which a laboratory will be assessed is ISO/IEC 17025, but the accreditation body will have precise requirements specific to the tests being undertaken over and above those that are contained in this standard,. For instance, it may have special requirements for the intervals at which equipment must be recalibrated, or periodic checks that must be made, or some particular educational requirements for certain types of laboratory staff.

The assessment consists of preparatory work prior to any visit to the laboratory, a visit by the assessment team to the laboratory, follow-up activity such as proficiency testing and resolution of any problems or failures to satisfy the management system. Only when the process is completed to the satisfaction of the accreditation body is accreditation granted. While the accreditation body should not provide a consulting service, the assessment process can also be very instructive to the laboratory; the assessment team will often be able to suggest improvements to laboratory performance. Often there is some legitimate technology transfer from the expert assessment team to the laboratory staff.

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