Analytical Quality Training Programme 2011

LGC Standards provides analytical quality training courses to help ensure you meet current quality standards:

• Statistical tools for analytical chemists

• Evaluation of uncertainty for chemical testing laboratories

• Method validation

• Use of PT in the analytical laboratory

• Lean process improvement

• Laboratory management

• Laboratory internal auditing

To download the training brochure please click: Analytical Quality Training Programme 2011

LGC Standards provides products and services to improve measurement and quality control within your laboratory:

• Reference materials for a wide range of sectors including food, environmental, pharmaceutical, clinical and industrial
• Biological standards and reagents
• Production of pharmaceutical impurities
• High purity solvents

To download the new catalogue "Reference materials and standards for environmental analysis, food and industrial" please click

LGC Standards FINE 2011/12 Catalogue

We have added a new trial sample for laboratories involved in the analsysis of mineral water. Sample 424 is for the detection of sulphite reducing clostridia (vegetative cells or spores) and coagulase positive staphylococci and will be offered at a reduced price in the September distribution (round 185) of QWAS. Further details of the sample can be found in the scheme description and in the application form.

A limited number of samples will be produced for the trial so please order early to ensure you are included in the trial.

LGC Standards, Europe’s leading supplier of reference materials and UKAS accredited international provider of proficiency testing (PT) services (certificate no. 0001), has been appointed to administer the International Stevia Council’s (ISC) independent Proficiency Testing Program (PTP) for stevia* products.

A wide variety of analytical methods and reference standards are currently being used within the industry to determine steviol glycoside content. This variance has lead to inconsistent quality of the analytical methods and reference standards used, which in turn, may result in inaccurate and inconsistent representation of stevia product composition and purity levels.

From its new, state-of-the-art facility in Bury, UK, LGC Standards will be administering the PT scheme on behalf of the ISC to assure the quality of global stevia testing.  The LGC Standards-administered PT scheme will allow participants to benchmark performance of their methods, analytical standards and analysts’ competency in a statistically relevant, blind testing scheme managed in accordance with international quality standards. Ensuring analytical methods and standards employed are appropriate and meet minimum levels of accuracy will help to protect market viability of stevia-based products.

LGC Standards has successfully implemented numerous international proficiency testing schemes in global industries such as: food and beverage, cosmetic and toiletry, forensic toxicology, water analysis and animal feed.

Phil Smith, Head of Sales & Marketing, Proficiency Testing, LGC Standards, said “We have a wealth of experience working with major food industries and brands to provide custom proficiency testing schemes worldwide. The collaboration with the International Stevia Council is exciting because it is such a new scheme and we believe it can have a real impact on developing methods in order to ensure high quality product for stevia customers.”

* Stevia is a plant of the Asteraceae (sunflower) family whose leaves have been used as a sweetener in South America for hundreds of years. Extracts of the stevia leaf have been available as food additives (sweeteners) and/or dietary supplements in many countries around the world.

The use of cosmetics has been commonplace for thousands of years, and the potential for harm to the wearer has been present ever since the use of toxic chemicals such as lead sulphite (galena) as an eye make-up by the ancient Egyptians.

Today it is important that contaminated cosmetics do not enter the supply chain, whether the contamination is due to excessive levels of heavy metals, or microbial contamination which can produce enzymes which can damage the epidermis causing irritation and potentially infection if applied to already broken skin.

LGC Standards, an independent, international provider of proficiency testing (PT) with over twenty five years of experience are pleased to announce the launch of the new COSMETICS scheme following a successful trial in 2010.

The scheme covers chemistry and microbiology test parameters. A lipstick, lip gloss and powdered cosmetic formulation is available for analysis of lead and other metals, and for analysis of common microbiology contaminants the range of products include powder, cream or lotion. 

In addition to the above test materials we are delighted to announce the introduction of a cream Trial test material for the analysis Hydroquinone. The analyte is commonly found in products marketed to lighten the skin, and is one of the most toxic ingredients still used in cosmetics.

If you wish to participate in the COSMETICS scheme, please contact cosmetics@lgcpt.com for the 2011 – 2012 application form.

New building officially opened by Dawn Copley on behalf of Peter Fahy, Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police

LGC Standards welcomed guests to the official opening of its new building on 31 March 2011. The new facility, at Chamberhall Green, Bury, houses over 19,500 sq ft of purpose built office, laboratory and warehouse space, to provide a global centre of excellence for the operation of the company’s proficiency testing business.

The new, purpose-built site is situated adjacent to the new Greater Manchester Police divisional headquarters. Guest of honour was Dawn Copley, Assistant Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, who conducted the official opening on behalf of Peter Fahy QPM MA, the Chief Constable. Ms Copley and other guests were also given a tour of the new building by LGC Standards staff.

LGC Standards is a major international provider of proficiency testing services, providing over 35 schemes to over 7,000 laboratories worldwide. Proficiency testing schemes are designed to improve the quality of analysis by enabling laboratories to confirm their ability to perform tests competently, and are an essential element of quality assurance.

Dawn Copley, Assistant Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, said; “I am delighted to open this impressive new facility for LGC Standards at the new Chamberhall Green location. Today I have learnt about a very important service that I previously knew little about – proficiency testing.”

Peter Fahy, Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, commenting on the event said: “It is reassuring to know that such a service exists to ensure that forensic testing laboratories supplying Greater Manchester Police can regularly monitor the quality of their results.”

Brian Brookman, General Manager, LGC Standards Proficiency Testing, said: “This move to much larger, modern premises, housing our laboratory, despatch and administrative functions, is a key milestone in the development of our business. It will allow us to continue our growth plans, adding new schemes to our portfolio, and will give us the opportunity to further improve the service we offer to our customers.”

Following the success of our annual surveillance visit by UKAS, against the new PT standard, ISO/IEC 17043, "Conformity assessment – General requirements for proficiency testing", we are pleased to announce that LGC Standards Proficiency Testing has been updated to the new standard. This makes us amongst the first PT Providers in the world to achieve this accreditation status. 

To download our UKAS certificate and expanded Scope of Accreditation please visit the 'accreditation' section.

Please click the attachment link below for further details

Please click the attachment link below for further details

Please click the attachment link below for further details

Please click the attachment link below for further details

NEW ADDRESS FOR LGC STANDARDS PROFICIENCY TESTING

You may (or may not) be aware that during 2010 LGC has been investing in a new custom-built facility for the Proficiency Testing business. For the past 9 years we have been operating successfully from two small buildings approximately 100 metres apart. The buildings have served us well, but the continued expansion of the business, thanks to all our participants, means that there is no space left for further growth.

The new facility has been custom-designed and built for us, bringing all parts of the PT business into a single facility, with space to accommodate the ambitious plans for the business. Part of these includes the recent acquisition of Cardiff Bioanalytical Services, which will locate to the new facility during April 2011.

Please note that, as of 24^th January 2011, the new address for LGC Standards PT will be:

LGC Standards

Proficiency Testing

1 Chamberhall Business Park

Chamberhall Green

Bury

Lancashire

BL9 0AP

Our telephone and fax numbers will remain unchanged:

Telephone: + 44 (0) 161 762 2500 Fax: + 44 (0) 161 762 2501

We would like to thank all the participants in the 5th Environmental Laboratory Quality Day for helping to make it a great success, and particularly to those who faced a difficult journey back to Scotland in the bad weather. We hope you all made it without mishap!

• Aquacheck Technical Review
• CONTEST Technical Review
• Defining Water Is It Surface River or Lake
• Ensuring Water Samples are Representative
• Legionella Technical Review
• MCERTS in Water The First 6 Months
• PORTAL Developments
• PT Water Framework Directive Review
• STACKS Technical Review

Please see the attachment below for full details.

Aquacheck: NEW TRIAL SAMPLE - STEROIDS

New water testing methods can now detect as low as parts per trillion of chemicals in our water supplies. Whilst researchers do not yet understand the exact risks of exposure to the many combinations of low levels of chemicals, recent studies have found a direct link between the presence of steroids, and the widespread feminisation of male fish.

We are pleased to announce the availability of a trial steroids sample for despatch on 8th November 2010.

Sample numbers for the trial are strictly limited, so please place your order early if you would like to participate in the round. For further details please contact customerservices@lgcpt.com

NEW - COSMETICS / TOILETRIES TRIAL SCHEME

We are pleased to announce the availability of a trial cosmetics and toiletries scheme for despatch on 13th December 2010. The scheme covers microbiology and chemistry test parameters, with a lipstick formulation for analysis of lead contamination, and a range of products (powder/lotion/mouthwash) for analysis of common microbiology contaminants. Samples are either a real product (lipstick) or are provided in a lyophilised format for addition to a sample matrix which is provided (microbiology).

Sample numbers for the trial are strictly limited, so please place your order early if you would like to participate in the round. For further details please contact customerservices@lgcpt.com

Please click the attachment link below for further details. 

Please click the attachment link below for further details. 

Please click the attachment link below for further details. 

Please click the attachment link below for further details. 

Please click the attachment link below for further details.