The CZRI Laboratories and Analysis Services operate in accordance with a quality management system that is compliant with the ISO/IEC 17025 standard. This international standard provides the benchmark for evaluating all elements of the management of professional activities of calibration and testing laboratories. In addition to the principal elements of the ISO 9001, the ISO/IEC 17025 standard includes specific criteria and procedures for determining technical skill. This assures clients that the analysis or calibration tests provided by these laboratories are reliable and accurate.
Our services received accreditation from the Canadian Association for Laboratory Accreditation Inc. (CALA) for specific analyses pursuant to this standard. This accreditation represents official recognition of our ability to produce results that meet international requirements. In addition, we are also recognized by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) for certain analyses under the Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program.
To maintain our accreditation, the laboratories are regularly subjected to on-site re-evaluations by the accrediting agencies to verify that our operating standards strictly adhere to their requirements. The following criteria are evaluated:
- Technical proficiency of staff;
- Validity of analysis methods;
- Calibration and maintenance of equipment and analytical instruments;
- Work environment and our facilities;
- Procedures for receiving, handling, and storing samples;
- Quality assurance associated with test results.
In addition, the laboratories must successfully participate in one or more recognized inter-laboratory proficiency programs for the parameters for which they have been officially recognized. We are currently participating in a program run by the CAEAL for analyses of water samples, and a United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) program for analyses of food product samples.
With a view to expanding the range of our accredited analyses, the Laboratories and Analysis Services are currently working to implement the required procedures for Canadian Standards Council accreditation for microbiological analyses of marine products. The team is also working to ensure that quality management system documentation is constantly updated.
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