American Association for Laboratory Accreditation

ACCREDITATION TEST METHODS AND SCOPES

Trace McInturffTelecommunications Certification Body Council (TCBC)

February 2008 WorkshopFebruary 19 – 21, 2008

Bahia ResortSan Diego, CA

Accreditation is…

• A third-party attestationattestation related to a conformity assessment bodyconformity assessment body conveying formal demonstration of its competence to carry out specific conformity assessment tasks

Accreditation isn’t…

• A guaranteeguarantee on the validity of each and every test result

Assessors are…

• Fact finders

• Technical experts

Assessors are not…

• Police officers

• Accreditation decision makers

So, what is an accredited test?

ISO/IEC 17011 Requirements

• 7.9.4 The accreditation body shall provide an accreditation certificate to the accredited CAB.

• 7.9.5 The accreditation certificate shall also identify the following:– the tests or types of tests performed and

materials or products tested and the methods the methods usedused.

A2LA General Requirements

• The scope of accreditation is normally identified in terms of standard test methods prepared by national, international, and professional standards writing bodies.

• If a laboratory desires accreditation only for a superseded version of a standard test method, the date of the version used is identified in its scope of accreditation.

• When the date is not identified in the scope of accreditation, laboratories are expected to be competent in the use of the current version within one year of the date of publication of the standard test method.

What Goes Into Accrediting a Test Method?

• Management System– Document Control – using the latest method– Internal Audit – technical audit of the method– Management Review

• Lab up-to-date with technology

• Staff up-to-date with technology

• Resources to support technology

What Goes Into Accrediting a Test Method?

• Technical– Competent staff– Laboratory facilitate correct performance of test– Appropriate method– Measurement uncertainty– Control of data

What Goes Into Accrediting a Test Method?

• Technical (cont’d)– Equipment– Measurement Traceability– Handling of test items– Quality control (PT?)– Reports

Matrix

Scope of Accreditation

• ILAC-G18:2002

The scope of accreditation of a testing laboratory is the formalformal and preciseprecise statement of the activities which the laboratory is accredited for.

Scope ExampleTest Technology Test Method(s)Basic Test Method Standards (Emissions):Conducted & Radiated: ANSI C63.4-2003; FCC OST MP-5:1986; EIA/TIA-603:1993;

TIA/EIA-603:2001; CISPR 11:1990; EN 55011:1991;CISPR 11:1997 + A1:1999 + A2:2002; CISPR 11:2003 +A1:2004

+A2:2006; EN 55011:1998 + A1:1999 + A2:2002; EN 55011:2007 + A2:2007;CISPR 12:2001 + A1:2005; EN 55012:2002 + A1:2005; CISPR 13:1996 + A1:1998; CISPR 13:2001;CISPR 13:2001 + A1:2003 + A2:2006;EN 55013:2001 + Corrigendum 1;EN 55013:2001 + Corrigendum 1 + A1:2003 + A2:2006;EN 55013:1990 + A12:1994 + A13:1996 + A14:1999;CISPR 14-1:1993 + A1:1996 + A2:1998;EN 55014-1:1993 + A1:1997 + A2:1999; CISPR 14-1:2000 + A1:2001; EN 55014-1:2000 + A1:2001; CISPR 14-1:2000 + A1:2001 + A2:2002;EN 55014-1:2000 + A1:2001+ A2:2002;CISPR 14-1:2005; EN 55014-1:2006; CISPR 22:1993 +

A1:1995+A2:1996; EN 55022:1994 + A1:1995 + A2:1997; CISPR 22:1997 +

A1:2000+A2:2002; EN 55022:1998 + A1:2000 + A2:2003; CISPR 22:2005 + A1:2005;EN 55022:2006 + C1:2006

ISO/IEC 17025 Requirements

• 4.4 Review of requests, tenders and contracts

– Policies and procedures• the requirements, including the methodsmethods to be used,

are adequately defined, documented and understood

• the appropriate test methodmethod is selected and is capable of meeting the customers’ requirements

ISO/IEC 17025 Requirements

• 5.10.2 Test reports– Each test report shall include at least the

following information:

e) identification of the methodmethod used;

Endorsed Reports

• While inclusion of the “A2LA Accredited” symbol on reports is not mandatory, onlyonly reports bearing the “A2LA Accredited” symbol can benefit from the acceptance established through mutual recognition agreements/arrangements among accreditation bodies.

Accredited?

• Request copy of their scope of accreditation

• Check Accreditation Body website

Have an Issue With Non-Accredited Testing Lab?

• Complain to the lab and hope for the best

Have an Issue With Accredited Testing Lab?

• Complain to the lab– ISO/IEC 17025:2005 section 4.8 requires test

laboratories to have a complaints process

Have an Issue With Accredited Testing Lab?

• Complain to the Accreditation Body– ISO/IEC 17011:2004 section 5.9 requires

accreditation bodies to have a complaints process

Have an Issue With Accredited Testing Lab?

• Complain to one of the International Laboratory Accreditation Systems – APLAC (http://www.aplac.org/)– EA (http://www.european-accreditation.org/)– IAAC (http://www.iaac.org.mx/)– ILAC (http://www.ilac.org/)

Mutual Recognition ArrangementsILAC

EA APLAC

IAAC Inter-American Accreditation Cooperation

EA European co-operation for AccreditationAPLAC Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation

Cooperation

ILAC International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation

IAAC

Mutual Recognition Arrangements

This guy did not use an Accredited Testing Lab

Questions?

Contact Info

Trace McInturffA2LA

5301 Buckeystown Pike Suite 350Frederick, MD 21704

Direct line: 301 644 3223Fax: 301 662 2974

tmcinturff@A2LA.orgwww.A2LA.org