Accredited vs non-accredited laboratories

All organisations appreciate the need for reliability and quality when producing and procuring goods and services; whether that’s to reduce costs, improve their own operations, mitigate risk, access new markets or build robust supply chains. For those utilising testing services, the overriding concern is that the results are reliable.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted that the need for competent, reliable and verifiable testing is as important as it has ever been. Every laboratory is different in terms of its facilities, equipment, personnel and the testing procedures it performs. This can make selecting a competent laboratory that will fulfil an organisation’s testing requirements a difficult process, particularly in areas where there might be few rules, regulations and guidelines.

Setting the standards

There are over 1700 UKAS accredited testing laboratories in the UK servicing a diverse range of industry sectors; from consumer products, healthcare and the environment, to food, fuel and forensics. Laboratories are accredited for specific tests and services they provide and these are described on each laboratory’s Schedule of Accreditation and published on the UKAS website.

When it comes to selecting accredited testing services, there are two overarching standards to look out for. The most common standard is ISO/IEC 17025 – General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories. This is suitable for all testing laboratories and involves the robust assessment of a laboratory’s processes, staff, facilities, technical expertise and historical performance. Accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025 also examines a laboratory’s quality management systems in line with the principles and provisions of ISO 9001.

ISO 15189 Medical laboratories — Requirements for quality and competence, serves the same purpose as ISO 17025. However it is specifically aimed at medical laboratories and Point Of Care Testing (POCT) carried out by a hospital, healthcare clinic or other healthcare setting. ISO 15189 incorporates all of the general requirements of ISO/IEC 17025 but also includes requirements for clinical governance and oversight and requirements for pre- and post-examination activities.

Why choose a UKAS accredited laboratory?

In some sectors such as asbestos testing and private providers of COVID-19 testing there are regulations that require laboratories to be accredited. But for many laboratories it is a voluntary process. If it is not mandatory for laboratories to be accredited, then the question becomes why select one?

The laboratories themselves choose to become accredited for a wide variety of reasons, from increased efficiency and greater access to marketplaces to professional pride and improved reputation. These benefits, along with many others, can be conferred onto those using accredited testing laboratories.

The overall aim of the accreditation process is to provide confidence in the accuracy, impartiality and reliability of test results. In order to reach accredited status, a laboratory must demonstrate it has the facilities, equipment, resources, staff and technical competence to perform the test in line with both the requirements of the standard and defined industry practices. In addition to showing a commitment to continuous quality improvement, accredited laboratories also have to demonstrate the testing is being conducted both consistently and without bias. Non-accredited laboratories are not subject to this recognised robust and independent scrutiny, making it difficult to determine their ability to produce impartial and reliable results.

Choosing an accredited laboratory can therefore save an organisation time and money by avoiding the need to rectify inaccurate testing. It also helps organisations make informed decisions and minimises the risk of producing either a faulty/non-specification product and the consequential financial, practical, customer-relations and reputational implications.

Owing to global multilateral recognition agreements, accredited test results are recognised as equivalent through the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation Mutual Recognition Arrangement (ILAC MRA) across the world. This not only provides access to a broader international marketplace, but also avoids the need for repeated testing in each territory, reducing costs further.

Rather than just accepting a supplier’s word for it, increasingly procurers in both the public and private sector are relying on independent evidence of fitness for purpose by specifying accredited testing as a minimum requirement when putting out tenders. In addition to widening the potential marketplace and helping to win business, using an accredited testing laboratory enhances an organisation’s reputation and credibility. It can also help demonstrate due diligence in the event of a legal claim, particularly where product failure involves public safety or financial loss.

Accreditation or certification?

By assessing the technical competence of laboratory staff and the facilities, equipment and testing methods used, accreditation generates confidence in the quality and reliability of test results. Organisations would be advised to look for laboratories that have been accredited by UKAS to either ISO/IEC 17025 or ISO 15189 for the relevant testing activity.

ISO 9001 is widely recognised as the world’s leading quality management system. Organisations of all types and sizes can apply for ISO 9001 certification, regardless of industry sector, product or service. However, ISO 9001’s emphasis is on establishing an organisation’s compliance with a generic quality management system. As the standard does not involve an evaluation of the technical competence of facilities and personnel, certification to ISO 9001 should not be viewed as an acceptable alternative to accreditation against either ISO/IEC 17025 or ISO 15189 when trying to identify a competent testing laboratory.

Browse UKAS accredited organisations – here you can search by type, name, region or category to find details of accredited laboratories.