SEDL / STP / STP814-EB / STP28570S

Developments in Australia and New Zealand Laboratory Evaluation Criteria

Garside, JH
Director, Testing Laboratory Registration Council, Auckland,

Gilmour, JA
Registrar, National Association of Testing Authorities, Sydney,

Pages: 10    Published: Jan 1983

Download this paper for $25 PDF (136K)          View License Agreement
Abstract

Laboratory accreditation on a national scale was first developed in Australia in 1947 and subsequently adopted in neighboring New Zealand in 1972. Broad statements of basic criteria for accreditation have remained constant ever since, but the interpretation and implementation of those criteria are evolving processes. Criteria are developed by consensus procedures to meet the needs of new fields of testing, new test methods, new measuring equipment, and new technology in both the laboratory and in industry. The basic approach to laboratory assessment by a process of peer review does not change, but as criteria develop the exact nature of the assessment procedure varies to accommodate that development.