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ISO/IEC 17043: the new International Standard for proficiency testing

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Abstract

The revision of ISO/IEC Guide 43 is well underway by CASCO Working Group 28, with the author as Convener. The ballot on the committee draft was successfully completed in June 2008. The Working Group met in September to resolve the CD comments and to recommend that the document should advance as an ISO/IEC DIS. The document is in harmony with ISO/IEC 17025 (2005), ILAC G13 (2007), and the IUPAC Harmonized Protocol (2006) for proficiency testing. Major changes from Guide 43 include considerations for inspection bodies, requirements for metrological traceability of assigned values for calibration schemes, limitations on subcontracting, requirements for reporting the uncertainty of assigned values, and for including method information and technical commentary in scheme reports. Minor changes include requirements for equipment used in the manufacture and testing of proficiency test items, considerations for handling laboratories’ reported uncertainties, and the issuance of certificates of participation. These changes have not generated any substantial objections from the CASCO membership and liaisons.

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References

  1. ISO (1997) ISO/IEC guides 43-1 and 43-2: proficiency testing by interlaboratory comparisons, Part 1 and Part 2. International Organization for Standardization, Geneva

  2. ILAC (2007) ILAC G13: guidelines for the requirements for the competence of providers of proficiency testing schemes. International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation, Sydney

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  4. ISO (2005) ISO/IEC 17025: general requirements for the competence of calibration and testing laboratories. International Organization for Standardization, Geneva

  5. ISO (2005) ISO 13528: statistical methods for use in proficiency testing by interlaboratory comparison. International Organization for Standardization, Geneva

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Acknowledgments

I acknowledge American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) for funding and the expert members of CASCO Working Group 28 for expert contributions and management of national committees.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dan Tholen Statistical Consulting, 823 Webster Street, Traverse City, MI, 49686, USA

    Daniel W. Tholen

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  1. Daniel W. Tholen
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Correspondence to Daniel W. Tholen.

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Tholen, D.W. ISO/IEC 17043: the new International Standard for proficiency testing. Accred Qual Assur 13, 727–730 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00769-008-0470-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00769-008-0470-y

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