Importance of ISO/IEC 17025 Accreditation

The Importance of ISO 17025 Accreditation

What is it?

ISO/IEC 17025 Accreditation is standard developed by the International Organization for Standardization to determine competency of a testing laboratory. ISO/IEC 17025 Accreditation is perhaps the most significant and widely used standard for testing & calibration of laboratories.

What does it mean?

A laboratory that has ISO/IEC 17025 Accreditation has been deemed competent in certain testing and calibration activities by a third-party company.  This also means that the laboratory is equipped with the required equipment needed to produce the high quality and precise results.

What is it used for?

•       Implement a quality system in the laboratory
•       Produce technically valid result consistently
•       Determine if a laboratory is technically competent in calibration and testing

What does it apply to?

ISO/IEC 17025 has developed standards, policies and criteria for the following areas in the laboratory:

•        Confidentiality
•        Personnel
•        Facility & Environmental Conditions
•        Equipment
•        Traceability
•        Processes
  •    Sampling
  •    Methods
  •    Calibration items
  •    Technical records
  •    Reporting results
  •    Complaints
  •    Nonconforming work
  •        Management Systems
•   System Documentation
•   Control of records and documentation
•   Risk assessment
•   Corrective Actions
•   Audits

Why is it important?

The purpose of ISO/IEC 17025 is to evaluate, analyze, and asses all the required factors related to the laboratory’s potential to produce accurate test and calibration data. These standards provide the customers with a trustworthy solution to all their laboratory testing and calibration needs as the compliance of these standards ensures the laboratory would produce technically competent results.  ISO/IEC 17025 Accreditation is a global standard for the evaluation of traceability of measurements and technical competence of the processes, as well as staff. These standards help to determine appropriate methods for maintenance of test equipment and quality assurance of test. ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation also deals with proper handling and transportation of test items and emphasize majorly on the appropriateness of testing methods & procedure.

Who benefits?

Everyone.  The customer and the laboratory both benefit from this accreditation.  The laboratory is held to the highest standard and the customers benefit from the quality and the confidence of the results. The accreditation helps to gain the trust of customers and help the customer in selection of the most technically competent laboratory. This not only provides the customers with an effective means to test but also eliminated the expense of retesting the same material in a quest to find the accurate results. The accreditation is a third-party assessment process, the customers can rely & easily bank on the performance of the laboratory and the accuracy of the results.

Can North Star Scientific Solutions help you?

Yes. North Star Scientific Solutions can help prepare you for ISO/IEC 17025 Accreditation.  Contact us today to set up a consultation!