ISO/IEC Guide 43-2:1997 Proficiency testing by interlaboratory comparisons - Part 2: Selection and use of proficiency testing schemes by laboratory accreditation bodies
International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
Status
Latest
ISO/IEC Guide 43-2:1997
Scope
The objectives of this part of lSO/IEC Guide 43 are:
a) to establish principles for the selection of proficiency
testing schemes for use in laboratory
accreditation programmes; and
b) to assist in harmonizing the use of results of proficiency
testing schemes by laboratory accreditation
bodies.
As results from proficiency testing schemes may be
used in accreditation decisions, it is important that
both the accreditation bodies and participating laboratories
have confidence in the design and operation of
the schemes.
It is also important for participating laboratories and
laboratory accreditation assessors to have a clear
understanding of the accreditation bodies’ policies for
participation in such schemes, the criteria they use for
judging successful performance in proficiency testing
schemes, and their policies and procedures for following
up any unsatisfactory results from a proficiency
test.
It should be recognized, however, that laboratory
accreditation bodies and their assessors may take into
account the suitability of test data produced from
other activities apart from proficiency testing
schemes. This includes results of laboratories’ own
internal quality control procedures with control
samples, comparison with split-sample data from
other laboratories, performance of audit tests with
certified reference materials, etc. The use of data
from these sources by laboratory accreditation bodies
is not covered by this part of lSO/IEC Guide 43.
However, the principles set out in this part of lSO/IEC
Guide 43, regarding follow-up of unsatisfactory performance,
could also apply to these activities.
ISO/IEC Guide 43-2:1997 history
1997ISO/IEC Guide 43-2:1997 Proficiency testing by interlaboratory comparisons - Part 2: Selection and use of proficiency testing schemes by laboratory accreditation bodies