1 The role of Proficiency Testing in Laboratory Accreditation

Georgette Macdonald, CLAS Group Leader

2 Context
• The International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) Mutual Recognition Arrangement
• The arrangement came into effect on 31 January 2001
• The Standards Council of Canada was one of the 36 original signatories.
“The ILAC Arrangement provides significant technical underpinning to international trade. The key to the
Arrangement is the developing global network of accredited testing and calibration laboratories that are assessed
and recognized as being competent by ILAC Arrangement signatory accreditation bodies.” www.ilac.org

4 Proficiency Testing and Accreditation

• According to ISO/IEC 17025; a laboratory shall have quality control procedures for monitoring the validity of tests
and calibrations undertaken. This monitoring may include the participation in inter-laboratory comparisons or
proficiency testing (PT) programmes.
• Accreditation bodies (signatory to the ILAC MRA) shall demonstrate the technical competence of their accredited
laboratories. One of the elements by which accredited laboratories can demonstrate technical competence is by
satisfactory participation in PT activities where such activities are available and appropriate.

5 ILAC P9:2010
• Removed concept of “major sub-disciplines”
• A tool for harmonization
• Considers development of
– ISO 17043: Conformity Assessment – General requirements for proficiency testing
– EA document: Guidance on the level and frequency of proficiency testing participation [EA-4/18]
– APLAC document: Proficiency Testing Frequency Benchmarks [APLAC PT 006]

• ILAC members voting due by 15 October; expected to be ratified at ILAC GA at the end of October

6 APLAC PT 006
Proficiency Testing Frequency Benchmarks

1 Calibration
Major Sub-Discipline
• Accelerometry
• Acoustics
• Density and viscosity
• Dimensional
• Electrical
• Flow
• Force and Torque
• Hardness
• Humidity
• Ionizing radiation
• Magnetism
• Mass
• Optical
• Pressure & vacuum
• Temperature
• Time & Frequency
• Volume
2

Benchmark Frequency of PT participation

Once every two years per major sub-discipline

1/2 yrs

• Accreditation Bodies should have a PT policy and this policy should meet the requirements of ILAC-P9 and promote the minimums be exceeded…

7 SCC –
PALCAN Handbook
1.6 As a signatory to the Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation Mutual Recognition Arrangement (APLAC MRA –
APLAC MR-001), the SCC must ensure that calibration and/or testing laboratories demonstrate technical competence by
satisfactory participation in proficiency testing activity where such activity is available. The international minimum amount of
appropriate proficiency testing required per laboratory is:

a. one activity prior to gaining accreditation; and

b. one activity relating to each major sub-area of major disciplines of a laboratory’s Scope of Accreditation every four years
(preferably on a yearly basis)

8 SCC –

1
 PALCAN Handbook
NOTE 1: Appropriate proficiency testing activity includes international or national inter-laboratory comparisons or
measurement audits run or approved by the accreditation body itself. Preference should be given to international
inter-laboratory comparisons (e.g. APLAC, EA, IAAC) where these are available.
NOTE 2: Annual participation in PT is required where available.
NOTE 3: Laboratories should use proficiency testing programs which conform to the operational procedures
detailed in ISO/IEC Guide 43-1 (1997).

9 CLAS Requirement Document 7

• In addition to the proficiency activities organized by CLAS, laboratories are encouraged to seek out and to
participate in proficiency testing programs offered by recognized proficiency testing providers. It remains the
responsibility of applicant and CLAS-certified laboratories to verify their calibration capabilities on an on-going
basis through proficiency testing to meet the requirements of CLAS and CAN-P-4 (ISO/IEC 17025).

10 ISO Guide 43 revised to ISO 17043

• From a Guide to a Standard

• Released in 2010 – Accreditation

• ILAC MRA recognition

• Management Requirements
• Technical Requirements
• Independence and conflict of interest

11 References
• ILAC-P9:2010 – ILAC Policy for Participation in Proficiency Testing Activities
• APLAC PT 006 – Proficiency Testing Frequency Benchmarks
• ISO 17043:2010 – Conformity Assessment – General requirements for proficiency testing
• ISO 17011:2004 – Conformity Assessment – General requirements for accreditation bodies accrediting
conformity assessment bodies
• ISO 17025:2005 – General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories

12 Policy documents
• SCC – PALCAN Handbook [CAN-P-1570] December 2008
• CLAS Requirements for Proficiency Testing [CLAS Requirements Document 7] April 2005