Accreditation (Week 2) Flashcards
What is accreditation?
The accreditation process determines, in the public interest, the
technical competence and integrity of organisations such as those
offering testing, calibration and certification services (commonly
referred to as conformity assessment)
Its making sure you are competent have integrity
Difference between accreditation and certification?
Accreditation provides authoritative assurance of the technical
competence of a laboratory to undertake specified tests to the
appropriate international standard.
Certification shows an organisations compliance with
documented requirements.
Certification to ISO 9001 shows
compliance with the requirements for a quality management
system. It does not demonstrate any technical competence.
Why do labs need accreditation - Cases
Ensures analyses are fit for purpose and demonstrably correct
Diane Mohdal case - drug test showed she had 40x testosterone level - wasnt able to compete - but she was innocent
Cynadie in grapes - found in imported grapes - importation was banned - found out grapes were contaminated in labs
Wolverhampton covid lab wasnt accredited - 40k incorrect covid results
Why do labs need accreditation?
Ensures labs are competant
Ensures customer confidence in reports
Governement policy and regulation
Benefits of accreditation?
Recognises competence - customers will have confidence in selecting relaible provider
Marketing advantage - more likely to chose acreddited lab
Benchmark of performance - assurance that lab is maintaing competance
Accreditation internationally recognised
Who accredits labs?
UKAS - Appointed by government
Undertake accreditation against international standards
