Laboratory Accreditation is a procedure by which an authoritative body gives a formal recognition that a Conformity Assessment Body fulfils specified requirements and is competent to carry out specific tasks. This assure the customer of technically valid results issued by a laboratory having an effective quality system, competent staff, and technically valid procedures.
ISO 17025 is the main international standard for general requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories. ISO/IEC 17025:2017 is the most recent version of ISO 17025, updated from 2005. In major countries, ISO/IEC 17025 is the standard most labs must hold accreditation in an order to be deemed technically competent. There are many commonalities with the ISO 9001 standard, but ISO/IEC 17025 is more specific in requirements for competence and applies directly to those organisations that produce testing and calibration results and is based upon more technical principles producing many benefits for laboratories. This international ISO 17025 standard is applicable to all or any laboratory regardless of size or the extent of the scope of testing and calibration practices.
ISO/IEC 17025 Standards for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories, is the main ISO standard that used for testing and calibration laboratories worldwide and is the same across the globe despite the different names that you may come across. Each country has their own entity authorised by ISO that manages the standards, as here in New Zealand we have IANZ as an accreditation and regulatory body.
Benefits of an accredited laboratory:
- Assurance to customers of good laboratory practice
- National and international recognition
- Public and industry acceptance
- Save money by getting it right the first time
- Improves staff motivation and esteem
- Improved laboratory testing environment
Asbestos is New Zealand’s number one killer in the workplace, with around 170 people a year dying from asbestos-related diseases in New Zealand, mainly as a result of exposure to asbestos during demolition or renovation.
Focus Analytics are highly specialised IANZ accredited laboratory to analyse and report suspected asbestos containing materials and asbestos fibre counting using advance testing methods in New Zealand. Focus Analytics provide bulk identification service at our IANZ accredited laboratories based in Auckland and Tauranga in accordance to ISO/IEC 17025 guidelines and AS4964 (2004) and NOHSC: 3003(2005) Guidance Note on the Membrane Filter Method for Estimating Airborne Asbestos Fibres.