ISO 17025 is the international standard for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories, providing requirements for quality management systems and technical competence to ensure the accuracy, reliability, and traceability of test and calibration results. The certification process involves:

Management Requirements: Implement a quality management system (QMS) that complies with ISO 17025 requirements, covering areas such as document control, records management, management review, and continual improvement processes.

Technical Requirements: Demonstrate technical competence in specific testing and calibration activities through validation, verification, proficiency testing, and measurement uncertainty estimation, following recognized international standards and best practices.

Equipment and Facilities: Maintain suitable facilities, equipment, instruments, and measurement standards to perform testing and calibration activities accurately and reliably, ensuring calibration traceability to national or international standards.

Personnel Competence: Ensure that laboratory personnel possess the necessary qualifications, training, skills, and experience to perform testing and calibration tasks competently, adhering to ethical principles and professional conduct standards.

Sampling Procedures: Develop and implement sampling procedures that ensure representative and reproducible sampling of test materials, products, or specimens, minimizing sampling errors and ensuring the validity of test results.

Measurement Traceability: Establish and maintain measurement traceability by calibrating instruments and equipment against recognized standards, maintaining calibration records, and documenting measurement uncertainties to ensure the reliability and accuracy of test results.

Quality Assurance and Reporting: Implement quality assurance procedures to monitor and control the quality of testing and calibration processes, including data review, result verification, corrective actions, and comprehensive reporting to clients and stakeholders.

ISO 17025 certification demonstrates a laboratory’s technical competence, impartiality, and reliability in performing testing and calibration activities. By achieving ISO 17025 certification, laboratories can enhance their credibility, demonstrate compliance with international standards, and gain recognition in domestic and global markets.