Dear all,

I would like to know more about what is proficiency test and interlaboratory test?
Is it neccessary for an organization to participate in order to be accredited by ISO 17025?

I'm not quite understand the caluse of 5.9(c), (d) and (e).

Anybody out there cen help me and can give be some guidance.

Thanks a lot

Straight from ISO/IEC Guide 43, laboratory proficiency testing is defined as determination of laboratory testing performance by means of interlaboratory comparison
and laboratory comparison is defined as organization, performance and evaluation of tests on the same or similat itens by two or more laboratories in accordance with predetermined conditions.

Clause 5.9 of ISO/IEC 17025 is worried about the validity of the test results, that is, it´s worried if you´re doing things the right way. One of the ways to monitor the quality of your test results ib by participation in laboratory comparisons and proficienty testing, but, in 17025, it´s not really necessary, just one option.

Proficiency Testing and Inter-Laboratory testing, or PT/ILC as it is often known, is - under APLAC and ILAC requirements - mandatory where it exists.

Understand, it is a benchmarking exercise, and for that reason it is used to establish your laboratory's performance in a manner independent of the assessment process.

As for the difference, under ISO Guide 43, PT is a formal exercise, having a coordinating body, typically (but not always) an AB; a standard or reference laboratory (typically a NMI); and a formal report which clearly outlines the En or Z score depending on the type of laboratory. An ILC is often between some number of laboratories all of which may well be participating in the exercise, and still requires a formal report.

Contact your accrediting body (AB) to find out if there are any PT/ILC activities available for what your laboratory does. To find your AB for Malaysia, go to:
http://www.aplac.org

Hope this helps.

Hershal

This is the requirement we need to meet:

It is L-A-B’s policy that the laboratory performs two ILC/PT per year and its entire scope of accreditation every four years. It is strongly suggested that the laboratory scheduled and participate in at least 25% of its scope each year. It is the responsibility of the laboratory to submit an updated ILC/PT form for each participation in an ILC/PT. Each laboratory will be required to submit an updated form on a quarterly basis at a minimum .


Since we have not found a outside source for PT's for the tests listed in our scope, we perform ILC's which we have developed and conform to Guide 43. We usually perform 4 per year with two other accredited labs in our company.

Our auditor has been impressed with our efforts. And so has my boss since PT's can get quite expensive.