Chemistry & Biochemistry Laboratory
School of Agriculture, Policy and Development
ISO 17025 - How to Accredit your Laboratory
Practical Aspects of Gaining Accreditation
3-day intensive course (dates to be arranged)
Accreditation is the formal recognition that a testing laboratory is competent to carry out specific
tests and working to international standards set by an outside body of experts. It is difficult to obtain
detailed know-how of accreditation on an informal basis: consultants are earning a living from their
expertise and industry tends to be protective of their accredited advantage.
Approximately 2,500 laboratories are UKAS accredited; most of these are in the commercial sector.
However, UKAS accreditation is becoming an essential requirement for research projects
sponsored by industry, FSA, DEFRA or other government departments. Editors of scientific journals
have started discussions on how the validity of data submitted in research papers might be assessed.
Preparing for accreditation is a time-consuming process and a pro-active approach is advisable.
The NSRU Chemistry & Biochemistry Laboratory was a UKAS accredited testing laboratory until
March 2007. Whilst accreditation of a multi-function laboratory is rare (there are no more than ca. 10
UKAS accredited UK laboratories involved in both research and testing), it is not impossible. Our
Laboratory represents a unique facility to teach ISO 17025 implementation as it has experience
of systematic analysis in the context of teaching and research.
The Course:
This course will give detailed information and hands-on experience of practical issues of quality
control and accreditation. Staff will share their experiences with other colleagues and provide:
1. practical examples on how to establish quality assurance and control procedures and
2. how to prepare for UKAS accreditation to the ISO/IEC 17025 standard.
3. examples of our quality manual, sample registration, instrument checks, SOPs, method
validations, control charts, audits, test reports, training records, etc.
4. practical training sessions to teach day-to-day activities of an accredited laboratory (meeting
customer requirements, writing SOPs, conducting vertical and horizontal audits).
Participants:
The course is aimed at analysts working in universities, research institutes and industry. The course
will be especially suitable for people in agricultural, biological, environmental or food laboratories
involved with chemical analysis.
This course on laboratory accreditation will also be relevant for overseas PhD students, who often
enter careers and have responsibilities that include many more aspects than were covered in their PhD
training programme. For example, some are likely to find themselves in charge of laboratories as part
of other managerial responsibilities.

A certificate will be handed to each participant on the completion of the course.
Fees
The tuition fee for the course is £1,050. This covers all course-related costs, but not living or travel
costs.
To apply - please return the registration form to:
Dr I Mueller-Harvey
Chemistry & Biochemistry Laboratory
Department of Agriculture
The University of Reading
1 Earley Gate, P O Box 236
Reading RG6 6AT, United Kingdom
Tel (+44) 0118 378 6619
Fax (+44) 0118 935 2421
E-mail: i.mueller-harvey@reading.ac.uk
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ISO 17025 - How to Accredit your Laboratory: Practical Aspects of Gaining Accreditation
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Total: £ 1,050.00 per person
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Terms and Conditions
The fees include refreshments, lunches and an extensive delegate pack. Fees are payable in advance,
and should be sent to the above address with the completed registration form (a company order form
will be acceptable). Please make cheques payable to 'University of Reading' and quote 'ISO17025
course –Chem. & Biochem. Laboratory' on all methods of payment.
1. Cancellations must be received 1 month before the start of the course; another participant may be
sent, if someone cannot attend.
2. Information on local maps and accommodation, please see:
http://www.reading.ac.uk/about/find/about-findindex.asp
http://www.reading.ac.uk/web/FILES/University-of-Reading-map-Whiteknights-COLOUR-2_KEYS.pdf