Background

Laboratory proficiency testing is an essential element of laboratory quality assurance. With the increasing demands for independent proof of competence from regulatory bodies and customers, proficiency testing is relevant to all laboratories testing food for quality and safety in every country. Perhaps as importantly for the technical performance of the laboratory, regular proficiency testing provides independent feedback on the quality of analytical results, enabling laboratories to monitor and improve performance over time.

Resources

Eurachem provides a range of resources relevant to the implementation and use of proficiency testing:

• The Proficiency Testing working group coordinates Eurachem activity on Proficiency Testing.
• A joint paper on Selection, Use and Interpretation of Proficiency Testing (PT) Schemes by Laboratories provides detailed information on choosing a PT scheme and interpreting the results from PT.
• Several Eurachem Information leaflets provide short, general information on PT.
  • The leaflet Proficiency Testing Schemes and other interlaboratory comparisons describes the aims and organisation of PT schemes together with their advantages and limitations, and is currently available in 13 languages. 
  • How can PT help my laboratory? explains how proficiency testing can help to monitor and improve laboratory quality.
  • Selecting the right proficiency testing scheme for my laboratory focuses on key questions that can help laboratories choose those PT schemes best suited for their needs.
  • The leaflet "Proficiency testing - how much and how often?" helps laboratories select the right balance of areas of work and participation frequency.
  • Pre- and post-analytical proficiency testing gives examples of proficiency testing which are intended to provide feedback on the quality of steps preceding and following the measurement itself, such as interpretation of results and assessment of compliance with a standard.
• To assist identification of technical information, the PT Working Group and Education Training Working Group maintain a Reading List of key PT publications. A historical Bibliography of PT/EQA Publications, listing over 180 references from 1996-2006, is also available.

Details

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Last Updated: Tuesday, 11 April 2023 13:38

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