What is proficiency testing?
The aim of proficiency testing, sometimes known as External Quality Assessment (EQA)
is to provide laboratories with a means by which they can objectively assess and
demonstrate the reliability of the results produced by their technologists and the
analytical methods employed.
As the leading provider of proficiency testing schemes, LGC Standards Proficiency Testing has an unrivalled databank
of independent results of analysis, which, together with the number of laboratories
that participate in each round, gives authority to the statistical assessment of
a laboratory’s performance.
What Are the Benefits of LGC Standards Proficiency Testing Schemes?
EQA is an essential laboratory tool as it demonstrates a laboratory’s commitment
to good performance and enables participants to confirm their ability to perform
tests competently; an essential part in the laboratory accreditation process.
Participation in LGC Standards Proficiency Testing schemes will:
- enable participants to measure their performance against others
- give an early indication of potential problems or training requirements
- encourage good performance and reinforce an interest in quality assurance
- demonstrate an ability to comply with international regulations
- provide a valuable source of information
- provide the means to measure consistency across a group of laboratories
Who should participate?
Major food retailers usually require their suppliers’ laboratories to participate
in an appropriate EQA scheme as part of their approved supplier programme and it
is a normal requirement of accreditation. Suppliers of foodstuffs have a requirement
to satisfy The Food Safety Act, the EU directives concerning The Official Control
of Foodstuffs and the Dairy Hygiene regulations amongst others. Indeed, any organisation
that has a obligation to demonstrate the validity of their results of analysis to
a third party should participate in an EQA scheme. Many customers rely on LGC Standards Proficiency Testing schemes
to monitor the performance of their laboratories and the competence of the individual
technicians within the laboratories.
Who participates?
We export to laboratories in over 95 countries world-wide and our customer base
ranges from single small enterprises to inspection organisations of global repute.
We encompass the leading food companies, government agencies, major international food manufacturers,
research organisations and public laboratories. Currently we have over 4000 participants across the group.
We operate a number of bespoke schemes for multi-national companies to meet their particular
test regime. These special schemes cover up to 200 laboratories.
Quality systems
The LGC Standards Proficiency Testing schemes operate under their own written protocols and are accredited
by UKAS to ISO/IEC Guide 43-1:/1997 through assessment against ILAC G13:2000