Laboratory accreditation (ISO/IEC 17025)

AQAI provides ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation to organisations performing various types of testing and calibration. AQAI operates ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation in the following fields:

Biological

AQAI accreditation covers biological, microbiological and biochemical testing and measurement, relating to the examination of plant material, animal health, food, drugs and pharmaceuticals.

UKAS accreditation includes the examination or analysis of: 

  • Disinfectants & Antimicrobials, Efficacy & Susceptibility
  • Food & Related Microbiology
  • Food Sampling
  • Medical/Veterinary Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Pharmaceutical Microbiology
  • Plant Health Diagnostics & Inspection
  • Sensory analysis
  • Virology
  • Water & Environmental Microbiology
  • Tobacco

Calibration

AQAI accreditation covers a broad range of calibration activities. Calibration laboratories support the activities of other accredited testing laboratories, as well as provide accurate measurement and traceability to the manufacturing sector, engineering sector, construction sector, and equipment makers.

  • Temperature and Humidity
  • Pressure, Vacuum and Flow
  • Optical
  • Electrical Calibration
  • Radiological Calibration
  • Accelerometry
  • Magnetics
  • Acoustics
  • Density
  • Dimensional
  • Force
  • Hardness
  • Mass
  • Volume
  • Torque

Chemical

AQAI accredits chemistry laboratories that serve a broad range of industrial sectors. AQAI accreditation uses criteria and procedures specifically to determine technical competence. Laboratory accreditation is carried out against the internationally recognised standard ISO/IEC 17025 to assess factors relevant to a laboratory’s ability to produce precise, accurate tests and data including the technical competence of staff, the validity and appropriateness of test methods, the suitability and maintenance of test equipment, the testing environment, sampling, handling and transportation of test items, and the quality assurance of test data.

AQAI accreditation includes the examination or analysis of: 

  • Gases
  • Landfill Gas
  • Asbestos
  • Legionella
  • Precious metals and stones
  • Fuels & Oils
  • Paints, Coatings and General Chemicals
  • Radiochemistry
  • Precious Metals
  • Occupational Hygiene
  • Olfactometry
  • Soil Chemistry
  • Stack Emissions: sampling
  • Stack Emissions: analysis
  • Water Chemistry

Construction and Construction Products

AQAI accredits a large number of laboratories that carry out testing and calibration services for the building and construction sector. AQAI accreditation uses criteria and procedures specifically to determine technical competence. Laboratory accreditation is carried out against the internationally recognised standard ISO/IEC 17025 to assess factors relevant to a laboratory’s ability to produce precise, accurate tests and data including the technical competence of staff, the validity and appropriateness of test methods, the suitability and maintenance of test equipment, the testing environment, sampling, handling and transportation of test items, and the quality assurance of test data.

Testing laboratories operate in the fields of construction products and materials, geotextiles, NDT, engineering materials, machinery and structures, acoustics, and air leakage testing.

Calibration laboratories specialise in acoustics, dimensional, mass, density, volume, force, torque hardness, electrical, pressure, fluids, temperature and humidity testing.

AQAI accreditation includes the examination or analysis of:

  • Construction materials (such as concrete, aggregates, cement, soils, bituminous materials, roofing materials, rock and natural stone, masonry, steel)
  • Manufactured construction products (such as Road Signs & Lighting Columns, Floors, Non Electrical Cutlery and Domestic Kitchen Tools, Windows, Glazing and Doors, Pipes, Ducts and Fittings, Plumbing Components, Valves, Fittings and Water Meters, Vehicle Light Fittings, Bulbs and reflectors, paints and coatings, Road Signs & Lighting Columns, ceramics, tools, and artificial sports and playground surfaces.)

Electrical

AQAI accredits laboratories associated with the testing or calibration of an electrical and electronic nature related to instruments, equipment, appliances, components, and systems.

AQAI accreditation includes the examination or analysis of:

  • Electrical cables, insulating materials, plugs and sockets, instruments, transformers, generators, motors and appliances
  • Electricity Meters
  • Electrical Lamps and Lightning
  • Electrical Lifts
  • Power Supplies
  • Specific Absorption Rate (SAR)
  • Electromagnetic Compatibility
  • Bluetooth
  • Radio
  • Electromechanical Devices
  • Electromedical Equipment
  • High Voltage Power
  • Electrical Efficiency
  • Batteries and Battery Charging Systems
  • Photovoltaics
  • Telecommunications
  • Interoperability
  • Radar Equipment
  • Computer Peripherals

Environmental

AQAI accredits a large number of laboratories that carry out environmental testing services. AQAI accreditation uses criteria and procedures specifically to determine technical competence. Laboratory accreditation is carried out against the internationally recognised standard ISO/IEC 17025 to assess factors relevant to a laboratory’s ability to produce precise, accurate tests and data including the technical competence of staff, the validity and appropriateness of test methods, the suitability and maintenance of test equipment, the testing environment, sampling, handling and transportation of test items, and the quality assurance of test data.

AQAI accredits the following areas of environmental testing:

  • Radiochemistry & Radiological
  • Asbestos sampling & analysis
  • Soil sampling & chemistry analysis (contaminated land)
  • Water Drinking Water, Waste Water, Effluents, Leachates
  • Water & Environmental Ecotoxicology
  • Occupational Hygiene
  • Stack Emissions, Atmospheric Pollutants – Sampling & analysis
  • Landfill Gas – Sampling & analysis
  • Gases
  • Surface Chemistry Analysis
  • Sensory analysis
  • Paints, Coatings and General
  • Drugs of abuse

Fire and Textiles

AQAI accredits laboratories to test, measure, and evaluate the physical properties of materials, and components. Laboratory accreditation is carried out against the internationally recognised standard ISO/IEC 17025 to assess factors relevant to a laboratory’s ability to produce precise, accurate tests and data including the technical competence of staff, the validity and appropriateness of test methods, the suitability and maintenance of test equipment, the testing environment, sampling, handling and transportation of test items, and the quality assurance of test data.

Testing is conducted on materials including rubber, plastics, and wood to test aspects such as fire resistance, durability and tog on products (furniture, medical devices, clothing, toys, protective equipment etc).

Forensics

AQAI assessment of laboratories undertaking forensic analysis covers a broad range of examination and testing activities, which is frequently extended to meet the increasing needs of forensic practitioners.

AQAI accreditation not only provides authoritative assurance of the technical competence of a laboratory to undertake specified analyses but also reviews particular aspects relevant to the

Criminal Justice System, for example, continuity of evidence, management of casefiles, storage of exhibits.  Many forensic laboratories, from large multi-site organisations to smaller specialist companies, are now accredited.

AQAI accreditation includes the examination or analysis of:

  • Drugs, Accelerants, Glass, Paint
  • Toolmarks, Footwear, Vehicles
  • Fingerprints
  • Body Fluids, Fibres and Particulates, Blood Patterns
  • DNA profiling and interpretations
  • Questioned Documents
  • Computers , Mobile Phones
  • Firearms, Ammunition, Firearms Discharge Residue, Explosives
  • Lachymators and Accelerants
  • Marks and Impressions
  • Crime scene examination
  • Vehicles and Components

Geotechnical

AQAI accredits laboratories in the geotechnical sector that carry out geotechnical and materials testing in the following areas:

  • Soils
  • Aggregates
  • Bituminous Mixtures
  • Concrete
  • Stabilized materials
  • Rock
  • Peat materials
  • Geotextiles

AQAI accreditation uses criteria and procedures specifically to determine technical competence. Laboratory accreditation is carried out against the internationally recognised standard ISO/IEC 17025 to assess factors relevant to a laboratory’s ability to produce precise, accurate tests and data including the technical competence of staff, the validity and appropriateness of test methods, the suitability and maintenance of test equipment, the testing environment, sampling, handling and transportation of test items, and the quality assurance of test data.

Renewable Energy

AQAI accredits laboratories that carry out the testing of environmental performance and environmental efficiency. Laboratory testing is used to identify the performance of devices used in the harnessing and monitoring of both traditional and renewable energies. Laboratory testing is also fundamental to the proving of new technologies such as tidal and wind (or solar) energy.

AQAI accreditation uses criteria and procedures specifically to determine technical competence. Laboratory accreditation is carried out against the internationally recognised standard ISO/IEC 17025 to assess factors relevant to a laboratory’s ability to produce precise, accurate tests and data including the technical competence of staff, the validity and appropriateness of test methods, the suitability and maintenance of test equipment, the testing environment, sampling, handling and transportation of test items, and the quality assurance of test data .

 

 

Laboratory accreditation (ISO/IEC 17025)

AQAI provides ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation to organisations performing various types of testing and calibration. AQAI operates ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation in the following fields:

Biological

AQAI accreditation covers biological, microbiological and biochemical testing and measurement, relating to the examination of plant material, animal health, food, drugs and pharmaceuticals.

UKAS accreditation includes the examination or analysis of: 

  • Disinfectants & Antimicrobials, Efficacy & Susceptibility
  • Food & Related Microbiology
  • Food Sampling
  • Medical/Veterinary Microbiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Pharmaceutical Microbiology
  • Plant Health Diagnostics & Inspection
  • Sensory analysis
  • Virology
  • Water & Environmental Microbiology
  • Tobacco

Calibration

AQAI accreditation covers a broad range of calibration activities. Calibration laboratories support the activities of other accredited testing laboratories, as well as provide accurate measurement and traceability to the manufacturing sector, engineering sector, construction sector, and equipment makers.

  • Temperature and Humidity
  • Pressure, Vacuum and Flow
  • Optical
  • Electrical Calibration
  • Radiological Calibration
  • Accelerometry
  • Magnetics
  • Acoustics
  • Density
  • Dimensional
  • Force
  • Hardness
  • Mass
  • Volume
  • Torque

Chemical

AQAI accredits chemistry laboratories that serve a broad range of industrial sectors. AQAI accreditation uses criteria and procedures specifically to determine technical competence. Laboratory accreditation is carried out against the internationally recognised standard ISO/IEC 17025 to assess factors relevant to a laboratory’s ability to produce precise, accurate tests and data including the technical competence of staff, the validity and appropriateness of test methods, the suitability and maintenance of test equipment, the testing environment, sampling, handling and transportation of test items, and the quality assurance of test data.

AQAI accreditation includes the examination or analysis of: 

  • Gases
  • Landfill Gas
  • Asbestos
  • Legionella
  • Precious metals and stones
  • Fuels & Oils
  • Paints, Coatings and General Chemicals
  • Radiochemistry
  • Precious Metals
  • Occupational Hygiene
  • Olfactometry
  • Soil Chemistry
  • Stack Emissions: sampling
  • Stack Emissions: analysis
  • Water Chemistry

Construction and Construction Products

AQAI accredits a large number of laboratories that carry out testing and calibration services for the building and construction sector. AQAI accreditation uses criteria and procedures specifically to determine technical competence. Laboratory accreditation is carried out against the internationally recognised standard ISO/IEC 17025 to assess factors relevant to a laboratory’s ability to produce precise, accurate tests and data including the technical competence of staff, the validity and appropriateness of test methods, the suitability and maintenance of test equipment, the testing environment, sampling, handling and transportation of test items, and the quality assurance of test data.

Testing laboratories operate in the fields of construction products and materials, geotextiles, NDT, engineering materials, machinery and structures, acoustics, and air leakage testing.

Calibration laboratories specialise in acoustics, dimensional, mass, density, volume, force, torque hardness, electrical, pressure, fluids, temperature and humidity testing.

AQAI accreditation includes the examination or analysis of:

  • Construction materials (such as concrete, aggregates, cement, soils, bituminous materials, roofing materials, rock and natural stone, masonry, steel)
  • Manufactured construction products (such as Road Signs & Lighting Columns, Floors, Non Electrical Cutlery and Domestic Kitchen Tools, Windows, Glazing and Doors, Pipes, Ducts and Fittings, Plumbing Components, Valves, Fittings and Water Meters, Vehicle Light Fittings, Bulbs and reflectors, paints and coatings, Road Signs & Lighting Columns, ceramics, tools, and artificial sports and playground surfaces.)

Electrical

AQAI accredits laboratories associated with the testing or calibration of an electrical and electronic nature related to instruments, equipment, appliances, components, and systems.

AQAI accreditation includes the examination or analysis of:

  • Electrical cables, insulating materials, plugs and sockets, instruments, transformers, generators, motors and appliances
  • Electricity Meters
  • Electrical Lamps and Lightning
  • Electrical Lifts
  • Power Supplies
  • Specific Absorption Rate (SAR)
  • Electromagnetic Compatibility
  • Bluetooth
  • Radio
  • Electromechanical Devices
  • Electromedical Equipment
  • High Voltage Power
  • Electrical Efficiency
  • Batteries and Battery Charging Systems
  • Photovoltaics
  • Telecommunications
  • Interoperability
  • Radar Equipment
  • Computer Peripherals

Environmental

AQAI accredits a large number of laboratories that carry out environmental testing services. AQAI accreditation uses criteria and procedures specifically to determine technical competence. Laboratory accreditation is carried out against the internationally recognised standard ISO/IEC 17025 to assess factors relevant to a laboratory’s ability to produce precise, accurate tests and data including the technical competence of staff, the validity and appropriateness of test methods, the suitability and maintenance of test equipment, the testing environment, sampling, handling and transportation of test items, and the quality assurance of test data.

AQAI accredits the following areas of environmental testing:

  • Radiochemistry & Radiological
  • Asbestos sampling & analysis
  • Soil sampling & chemistry analysis (contaminated land)
  • Water Drinking Water, Waste Water, Effluents, Leachates
  • Water & Environmental Ecotoxicology
  • Occupational Hygiene
  • Stack Emissions, Atmospheric Pollutants – Sampling & analysis
  • Landfill Gas – Sampling & analysis
  • Gases
  • Surface Chemistry Analysis
  • Sensory analysis
  • Paints, Coatings and General
  • Drugs of abuse

Fire and Textiles

AQAI accredits laboratories to test, measure, and evaluate the physical properties of materials, and components. Laboratory accreditation is carried out against the internationally recognised standard ISO/IEC 17025 to assess factors relevant to a laboratory’s ability to produce precise, accurate tests and data including the technical competence of staff, the validity and appropriateness of test methods, the suitability and maintenance of test equipment, the testing environment, sampling, handling and transportation of test items, and the quality assurance of test data.

Testing is conducted on materials including rubber, plastics, and wood to test aspects such as fire resistance, durability and tog on products (furniture, medical devices, clothing, toys, protective equipment etc).

Forensics

AQAI assessment of laboratories undertaking forensic analysis covers a broad range of examination and testing activities, which is frequently extended to meet the increasing needs of forensic practitioners.

AQAI accreditation not only provides authoritative assurance of the technical competence of a laboratory to undertake specified analyses but also reviews particular aspects relevant to the

Criminal Justice System, for example, continuity of evidence, management of casefiles, storage of exhibits.  Many forensic laboratories, from large multi-site organisations to smaller specialist companies, are now accredited.

AQAI accreditation includes the examination or analysis of:

  • Drugs, Accelerants, Glass, Paint
  • Toolmarks, Footwear, Vehicles
  • Fingerprints
  • Body Fluids, Fibres and Particulates, Blood Patterns
  • DNA profiling and interpretations
  • Questioned Documents
  • Computers , Mobile Phones
  • Firearms, Ammunition, Firearms Discharge Residue, Explosives
  • Lachymators and Accelerants
  • Marks and Impressions
  • Crime scene examination
  • Vehicles and Components

Geotechnical

AQAI accredits laboratories in the geotechnical sector that carry out geotechnical and materials testing in the following areas:

  • Soils
  • Aggregates
  • Bituminous Mixtures
  • Concrete
  • Stabilized materials
  • Rock
  • Peat materials
  • Geotextiles

AQAI accreditation uses criteria and procedures specifically to determine technical competence. Laboratory accreditation is carried out against the internationally recognised standard ISO/IEC 17025 to assess factors relevant to a laboratory’s ability to produce precise, accurate tests and data including the technical competence of staff, the validity and appropriateness of test methods, the suitability and maintenance of test equipment, the testing environment, sampling, handling and transportation of test items, and the quality assurance of test data.

Renewable Energy

AQAI accredits laboratories that carry out the testing of environmental performance and environmental efficiency. Laboratory testing is used to identify the performance of devices used in the harnessing and monitoring of both traditional and renewable energies. Laboratory testing is also fundamental to the proving of new technologies such as tidal and wind (or solar) energy.

AQAI accreditation uses criteria and procedures specifically to determine technical competence. Laboratory accreditation is carried out against the internationally recognised standard ISO/IEC 17025 to assess factors relevant to a laboratory’s ability to produce precise, accurate tests and data including the technical competence of staff, the validity and appropriateness of test methods, the suitability and maintenance of test equipment, the testing environment, sampling, handling and transportation of test items, and the quality assurance of test data .