More than ever in our global economy, it is essential that measurements are deemed fit for their intended use – to reduce technical barriers to trade and provide domestic and international socio-economic benefits.

To achieve this objective, it is important that accreditation bodies and certification bodies like the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS), laboratories and other stakeholders, continue to give sufficient emphasis to technical issues as well as management systems.

Metrology as the science of measurement consists of four main pillars which underpin all measurements. These are traceability, calibration, method validation and quality assurance/control.

Metrology provides a basis for reliable and accurate measurements and reflects the need for sound measurement practices in both the calibration and testing areas. The ISO/IEC 17025:2005, General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories, emphasizes the need to address the metrological aspects associated with testing (as well as calibration) including the use of traceable reference materials for method validation, calibration and control of the measurement process).

The ISO/IEC 17025 laboratory standard also provides a sound framework for laboratory competence with its “general requirements”. The standard recognizes that sector specific “application documents” are often required and elaborates on the general requirements for particular types of measurements which are often needed if the accreditation process is to be effective and credible.

It is important to note that accreditation is not just compliance with this standard but it is both a symbol of achievement of a certain status and a process. Regarding status, accreditation provides public notification that an institution or programme meets standards of quality set forth by an accrediting body. As a process, accreditation reflects the fact that in achieving recognition by the accrediting body, the institution is committed to self-study and external review in seeking not only to meet standards but to continuously seek ways in which to enhance the quality of education and training provided.

Some laboratories are accredited based on the range of services they provide, which lists the specific measurement capabilities that have been assessed by trained (technical) experts, who ascertain whether the laboratory staff has the technical competence, that is, knowledge and skills, to perform specific tasks. Scopes can be limited to calibration of balances or to a large range of chemical tests on food, waters and metals for example.

The standard also provides the backbone laboratory standard for the best practice and the assessment of laboratory competence by accreditation bodies, which in turn, is supported by the international laboratory accreditation cooperation.

It is important to appreciate that the extra technical focus provided by laboratory accreditation is essential if users are to get the required confidence in the measurement results produced by accredited laboratories and achieve the “test once, accepted everywhere’ objective.

There are no ‘guarantees’ in this business, that the accreditation model is a cost-effective and efficient way of providing confidence in the technical competence of the accredited laboratories which provide measurement results in specific areas. However, these measurements must be backed up by sound metrological principles and practices, which are, and must be, an integral part of the accreditation process.

It is important that links continue to be strengthened in the future so that laboratory accreditation provides the added value that laboratories and their customers are seeking.

For further information on this subject, call the Guyana National Bureau of 7Standards on Telephone numbers: 219-0064, 219-0065 or 219-0069