Proficiency Testing

Below is a summary of L-A-B Policy 002 which defines the requirements for Proficiency Testing (PT) in order to obtain and maintain accreditation by Laboratory Accreditation Bureau.  Please refer to L-A-B Policy 002 for the exact requirements of Laboratory Accreditation Bureau.

• Scope

• Policy

• Laboratory Major Fields

• Assessor Evaluation of PT Results

• L-A-B Evaluation of PT Results

• Proficiency Test Providers Approved by L-A-B

Scope

Laboratories that wish to become accredited and maintain their accreditation are responsible for participating in a proficiency testing, interlaboratory comparison or a round robin testing program that will meet the requirements of L-A-B and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC).

L-A-B strongly encourages the use of an L-A-B Approved PT provider. 

Any proficiency test, interlaboratory comparison or round robin (ILC/PT) that does NOT utilize an approved PT providers must have the “Proficiency Scheme” approved prior to starting the proficiency test. An Application for Non-PT Provider Schemes, Form 28.14 must be completed and supporting documents will be judged against the requirements of ISO/IEC Guide 43-1. Any application that does not meet the requirements will not be approved.

Policy

1. Applicant laboratories must have performed satisfactorily in one approved ILC/PT under their proposed scope of accreditation before accreditation can be granted.

2. Accredited laboratories must complete one proficiency test per Major Field Parameter with the related Discipline of Testing and/or Calibration every four years in order to maintain their accredited status. (It is recommended that each laboratory participate in at least 25% of their scope per year.) The Major Fields with their related Disciplines for both testing and calibration are defined in Policy 002.1.

3. Accredited laboratories with more than four major fields with related discipline on their accredited scope are required to participate in a minimum of two approved ILC/PT’s in each year of their accreditation. Accredited laboratories with four or less major fields with related discipline on their accredited scopes are required to participate in a minimum of one approved ILC/PT per year.

4. The laboratory is required to provide L-A-B with Form 28.12 for participation in an approved ILC/PT’s. This schedule will be reviewed by the PT/ILC Manager or designee and be approved by L-A-B. L-A-B will track the schedules of their accredited labs ensuring all accredited laboratories comply with their proposed schedule. Laboratories that fail to comply with their schedule will have a non-conformance issued to them.

5. The laboratory is required to submit all results for all proficiency tests, interlaboratory comparisons and round robins after participating. All results must be submitted to L-A-B within thirty days of receiving performance results.

6. Laboratories are required to investigate as per section 4.9 of ISO 17025 unsuccessful results of PT/ILC parameters and if necessary, take corrective action. These investigations and corrective actions of unsatisfactory results shall be submitted to LAB along with the PT/ILC results.

7. Testing Laboratories only: If there are no ILC/PT programs available for Major Field Parameter’s on the laboratory’s accredited scope the laboratory may complete appropriate internal performance evaluations and repeatability studies.

Major Fields

L-A-B Major Field and Disciplines are defined in Policy 002.1

Assessor Evaluation of PT Results

1. The laboratory must have all of their current and past PT/ILC results available for the assessor. Evidence that those results and the Form 28.12 must also be provided to the assessor to show proof all required information was sent to L-A-B. If evidence is not provided a non-compliance shall be written. In addition, evidence that an approved PT provider was utilized for the test or an approved (by L-A-B Operations Manager) PT/ILC Application Form 28.14 was utilized to perform the test. This approval must occur prior to the onset of the PT/ILC. If proof is not available a non-compliance shall be written.

2. The assessor will evaluate the current year results of the PT/ILC to verify that the laboratory has successfully completed the PT/ILC and submit those results with the technical package to L-A-B Operations.

3. If any unsatisfactory results are evident, a review must assure the laboratory investigated as per section 4.9 of ISO 17025 unsuccessful results of PT/ILC parameters and if necessary, take corrective action.

L-A-B Evaluation of PT Results

1. The PT/ILC Manager will confirm the scheduling requirements are met for each laboratory so they complete the requirements per Major Field and related Discipline.

2. The PT/ILC Manager will assure all required Form 28.12 and PT/ILC results are received from each client.

3. The PT/ILC Manager will assure that when a client chooses not to utilize an approved PT provider the client submits a Form 28.14 for the proficiency test to be done and the appropriate approval by the Operations Manager is filed and delivered back to the client.