On Wednesday 4 September 2024, the Dutch Accreditation Council awarded Wageningen Food Safety Research with the new ISO/IEC:17043 accreditation. That's makes WFSR the first laboratory in the Netherlands to be certified according to the 2023 edition of this standard.
This updated accreditation is essential for the proficiency testing WFSR is offering. Laboratories with ISO 17025 accreditation are required to perform proficiency testing, with a preference for testing organised according to ISO 17043.
What is proficiency testing?
In a proficiency test, a sample or set of samples is analysed by several participating laboratories to assess specific parameters, such as the presence of contaminants. This process ensures that laboratories meet high standards of accuracy and reliability.
Role WFSR
WFSR organizes around 8 proficiency tests per year, involving around 200 laboratories worldwide. WFSR prepares the samples, distributes them to the participants and analyses the results. The institute compile these results into a comprehensive report. Participants receive this report, which includes their own results via a unique code. They can compare their results with the correct values, allowing them to assess their performance and refine their measurement methods accordingly.
