NZQA registered unit standard
8441 version 6
Page 1 of 3
Title
Describe laboratory quality systems
Level
5
Credits
4
Purpose
People credited with this unit standard are able to describe: the
aims of laboratory quality systems; the management of
laboratory quality systems; and the technical requirements of
laboratory quality systems in accredited laboratories.
Classification
Science > Science - Core
Available grade
Achieved
Explanatory notes
1
All work must be carried out in accordance with the quality management system,
documented protocol system or Standard Operating Procedures acceptable in a
commercial or research laboratory.
2
Health and Safety practices must conform to Australian/New Zealand Standard
AS/NZS 2243:2006 Set – Safety in Laboratories Parts 1, 2, 3, 7 and 10 available at
http://www.standards.co.nz and http://infostore.saiglobal.com/store.
3
Legislation applicable to this unit standard includes:
Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992
Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996.
4
Glossary
Accredited laboratory refers to a laboratory accredited according to the
Australian/New Zealand Standard NZS ISO/IEC 17025:2005 General requirements
for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Describe the aims of laboratory quality systems in accredited laboratories.
Evidence requirements
1.1
Concepts of quality, fitness for purpose, and continuous improvement are
described in laboratory quality systems.
1.2
Client expectations are described and related to the reliability of laboratory
results.
NZQA National Qualifications Services
SSB Code 130301
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
8441 version 6
Page 2 of 3
Outcome 2
Describe the management of laboratory quality systems in accredited laboratories.
Range
section 4 of New Zealand Standard 17025.
Evidence requirements
2.1
The management requirements of the quality system are described in relation to
the accredited laboratory.
Outcome 3
Describe the technical requirements of laboratory quality systems in accredited
laboratories.
Range
section 5 of New Zealand Standard 17025.
Evidence requirements
3.1
The technical requirements of the quality system are described in relation to the
accredited laboratory.
Planned review date
31 December 2018
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process
Version Date
Last Date for Assessment
Registration
1
22 December 1996
31 December 2014
Revision
2
19 February 1998
31 December 2014
Review
3
23 November 1999
31 December 2014
Review
4
26 February 2003
31 December 2014
Review
5
21 May 2010
N/A
Rollover
6
27 January 2015
N/A
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference
0152
This CMR can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA,
before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses
of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by
NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
NZQA National Qualifications Services
SSB Code 130301
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
8441 version 6
Page 3 of 3
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and
which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that
applies to those standards.
Requirements for consent to assess and an outline of the moderation system that applies
to this standard are outlined in the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR). The
CMR also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing
to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors
and assessors, and special resource requirements.
Comments on this unit standard
Please contact NZQA National Qualifications Services nqs@nzqa.govt.nz if you wish to
suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
NZQA National Qualifications Services
SSB Code 130301
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016