National Institute of Standards and Industrial Technology

LABORATORY ACCREDITATION AND ITS OBJECTIVES

Laboratory accreditation provides a means of determining the competence of laboratories to perform specific types of testing, measurement and calibration. It enables people who want a product, material or instrument to be checked or calibrated to find a reliable testing or calibration service able to meet their needs. It also allows the laboratory to determine whether it is performing its work correctly and to appropriate standards. Manufacturing organizations may also use laboratory accreditation to ensure the testing of their products by their own in-house laboratories is being done correctly.

Very importantly, laboratory accreditation provides formal recognition to competent laboratories, thus providing a ready means for customers to access reliable testing and calibration service.

In Papua New Guinea, PNGLAS (Papua New Guinea Laboratory Accreditation Scheme) is the national accreditation body that assesses and accredits testing and calibration laboratories. The scheme is administered by the National Institute of Standards and Industrial Technology (NISIT).

The institute established an accreditation service, which closely assembles the National Association of Testing Authority, Australia (NATA) system by registering laboratories operated by manufacturing industries, government departments, educational institutions and commercial consultants. The scheme is voluntary.

PNGLAS just like most accreditation body in the world have adopted an international standard, called ISO/IEC 17025, as the basis for the accreditation of its testing and calibration laboratories. The adoption of these standards simply means that PNGLAS approach to determining laboratory competence is uniform with other accreditation bodies that have also adopted the same standard.

Although the basic criteria for accreditation are the same for every laboratory, the manner in which these criteria are applied in any particular laboratory will vary depending on the nature of the laboratory. Some laboratory may have one or more functions and in each of these situations, may place their own demand on the nature of the organization, methodology, staffing, equipment, accommodation and operational procedures needed to fulfil their intended function.

• Examinational

• Advisory

During the assessment the assessment team may provide advice to testing authorities on means of correcting deficiencies and suggests areas of improvements. Almost every initial assessment of an applicant laboratory will uncover some aspects of laboratory that does not meet PNGLAS requirements. Even for a registered laboratory, it is not common to find one or more areas that have fallen below the required standard. For such situation the Council through its assessors will provide technical advice on how to correct deficiencies, preventive means and improvements.

This document outlines the general information on laboratory accreditation mechanism and philosophy and is referred to as non-technical notes. For technical notes/rules on specific testing fields, NISIT have adopted the technical notes in full or with amendments to suit PNG practices from other accreditation bodies including NATA and IANZ..

When a laboratory is registered, its details including its scope of accreditation are published in the PNGLAS Directory.

 

STRUCTURE AND GOVERNANCE

Papua New Guinea Laboratory Accreditation Scheme (PNGLAS)

PNGLAS was established in 1983 by the then National Standard Act - 1978. This was repealed in 1993 and replaced by NISIT Act – 1993. The National Institute of Standards and Industrial Technology (NISIT) is a non-profit Government agency, which administer PNGLAS.

The NISIT Act – 1993 established the NISIT Council which is responsible to the Minister responsible for NISIT and also for the administration of the standardization activities including laboratory accreditation. The Council members appointed by the Minister are representatives from industry, government and professional bodies.

The Papua New Guinea Laboratory Accreditation Scheme (PNGLAS) is a national organization for conformity assessment for laboratories. Through NISIT Act – 1993, the Papua New Guinea government recognizes PNGLAS as the only national accreditation body for establishing competent laboratory practice in the country. PNGLAS is also a member of Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (APLAC).

Accreditation Advisory Committees and Testing Laboratory Accreditation Board (TLAB)

The Council has established committees and board which are also responsible for developing specific criteria for each field of testing based on the Council’s basic criteria and exercise a technical supervisory function over registered laboratories. The Committees and the Board also on behalf of the Council supervises the assessment of the laboratories and resolve queries relating to technical policies.

The Board and Committee’s memberships are equally drawn from industries, government and professional bodies including scientific and research organizations. The members are appointed as individuals for their personal knowledge and expertise. They do not represent their employer or any other organization with which they may be associated.

Assessors

The TLAB lacks a full panel of expert assessors. At present the board have a handful of experts that have been volunteering to assist with the laboratory assessments. The assessors assist the Council, TLAB and PNGLAS on voluntary basis. If required, technical support is provided by NATA through its technical assessors and advise. The NATA assessors are invited to assist conduct assessments and train PNGLAS local experts or assessors while onsite.

 

PNGLAS OBJECTIVES

The main objectives of PNGLAS are:

• to provide, in the national interest, laboratory accreditation service which meets the needs of PNG stakeholders;
• facilitates the recognition and acceptance of test reports, products and services; and
• to promote science and practice of laboratory accreditation to enhance the acceptance of PNG reports or data and associated goods or services locally or on foreign markets.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ACCREDITATION

The general requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories are described in PNGS ISO/IEC 17025: 2005 General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories. These requirements are designed to apply to all types of testing and calibration and therefore often need to be interpreted with respect to the type of calibration or testing concerned, and the techniques involved.

All testing or calibration laboratories must comply with all relevant clauses of PNGS ISO/IEC 17025, the PNGLAS Rules, and relevant statutory requirements. Additional information relating to specific areas of testing or changes or additions to accreditation requirements or policies may be issued from time to time in the form of Technical or Policy Circulars. These shall supersede any previous requirements where indicated, and should be filed in the relevant section of PNGLAS accreditation requirement (PAR) package. The contents of the PAR are:

1. PNGLAS General Information

2. PNGS ISO/IEC 17025:2005 General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories

3. ISO/IEC 17025 Application Document – Supplementary Requirements for Accreditation in the for relevant Field of Testing.

4. PNGLAS Rules

5. Policies/Technical Circulars (where relevant)

6. Relevant Technical Notes

Technical Notes are also available to assist laboratories in relation to particular technical issues. They are intended to provide guidance and do not contain requirements for accreditation, unless specifically indicated in these document or delared by TLAB. Copies may be obtained from the PNGLAS office. A copy of the PNGLAS Accreditation Requirements must be readily available to staff working in a PNGLAS accredited or applicant laboratory.