ISO/IEC 17025:2017 – General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories has been released. This standard specifies the general guidelines for the competence, impartiality, and consistent operation of laboratories.
In laboratories, instrument testing and calibration is integral for maintaining accuracy, as any factors that can attribute to inaccurate measurements need to be limited so the instruments can reliably carry out their very purpose. Assuredly, ISO/IEC 17025 has become the international reference for testing and calibration of laboratories desiring to demonstrate their capacity to deliver trusted results. In a way, it is the reliable source for providing reliability.
Development of ISO/IEC 17025:2017
The previous version of ISO/IEC 17025 was the second edition, published back in 2005. Since then, market conditions have changed. Furthermore, the shared aspects among ISO international standards has driven the need for further harmonization among other existing international documents.
In meeting these two progressions, the third edition of the standard, ISO/IEC 17025:2017, has undergone numerous changes. Developed jointly by ISO and IEC in the Committee on conformity assessment (CASCO), the process approach of the document now matches that of newer standards such as ISO 9001, ISO 15189, and ISO/IEC 17021-1.
In fact, ISO/IEC 17025:2017 specifically describes the commonalities with it and ISO 9001:2015. The updated standard for testing and calibration laboratories has also adopted a new structure to align it with the other existing ISO/IEC conformity assessment standards, such as the ISO/IEC 17000 series for conformity assessment.
Changes to the Calibration Laboratories Standard
The above changes to the international standard are focused on trends with ISO documents. As for meeting the current industry needs, the changes to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 include:
- A new chapter on risk-based thinking has been added. The employment of this information has enabled some reduction of the standard’s prescriptive guidelines and resulted in their replacement by performance-based guidelines.
- Greater flexibility in the guidelines for processes, procedures, documented information, and organizational responsibilities.
- Terminology has been updated. For example, a definition for “laboratory” has been added.
- The standard now recognizes and incorporates the use of computer systems, electronic records, and the production of electronic results and reports. This change results from the greater focus on information technologies, which significantly modernizes the document.
- The scope has been revised to cover all laboratory activities. This includes testing, calibration, and the sampling associated with subsequent calibration and testing.
Get ISO/IEC 17025:2017
ISO/IEC 17025:2017 is also available as part of the following standards packages:
ISO/IEC 17025:2017 / ISO/IEC 17025:2005 – Competence of Laboratories Transition Set
ISO/IEC 17025 / ISO 15189 – Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories Package
ISO 10012 and ISO/IEC 17025 Laboratories Measurement Management System Requirements Package
ISO/IEC 17043 / ISO/IEC 17025 / ISO/IEC 17000 Competence and Proficiency Testing Package
ISO/IEC 17025:2017 – General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories is available on the ANSI Webstore.
ISO/IEC 17025:2017 Laboratory Accreditation by ANAB
This standard is also the basis for several laboratory accreditation programs. The ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) helps organizations move towards global recognition, consistent operations, and a competitive advantage through ISO/IEC 17025:2017 laboratory accreditation.
During this process, ANAB assessors evaluate the laboratory’s ability to produce precise, accurate test and calibration data. ANAB, which has years of experience with remote assessments, continues this practice safely throughout the Coronavirus pandemic.
ANAB provides accreditation for integrated accreditation to multiple standards and many industry-specific programs based on 17025, including the AAFCO Feed Testing Laboratory Accreditation Program, the Cannabis Testing Laboratory Accreditation Program, accreditation of laboratories performing detection of suspect/counterfeit parts to the requirements of AS6171, and the California Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (ELAP), among many others.
