VGL Dimensions is the first company in Africa to obtain ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation for the sampling of items to be sent for subsequent testing. Local accreditation bodies do not provide this scope for ISO/IEC 17025 yet. American accreditation body, ANAB, was instrumental in securing the accreditation. By Maryke Foulds
The MiChem Dynamics team assisted VGL Dimensions to obtain ANAB accreditation as a sampling organisation. The company continues to play an integral part with regards to the implementation, maintenance and improvement of the VGL Dimensions management system in compliance with ISO/IEC 17025:2017 requirements.
The process for obtaining accurate, reliable and consistent laboratory results requires two distinct steps: sampling and testing. If a sample was compromised during the sampling step, results obtained from the testing laboratory could be seen as questionable and unreliable.
Various factors may affect final laboratory results during the sampling process. These include the use of aseptic techniques, sample size, sample packaging, sampling equipment and temperature during transportation. Time interval between sampling and testing, and competency of samplers could also have an impact.
General requirements for ISO/IEC 17025:2017 and competence of testing and calibration laboratories include the definition of a laboratory as “a body that performs one or more of the following activities: testing; calibration and sampling, associated with subsequent testing or calibration.”
In other words, sampling activities associated with subsequent testing also falls under the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025:2017, which is a global standard. This standard specifies the requirements for the competence, impartiality and consistent operation of laboratories (including sampling activities).
Accreditation of laboratories according to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 confirms the competence of laboratories to perform the specific laboratory activity. If sampling activities do not appear on the schedule/scope of accreditation of the testing laboratory, it suggests that sampling is not part of the scope as assessed by the accreditation body. Competency was therefore not verified.
Reliability and accuracy of sampling are the biggest challenges experienced by food and related industries. VGL Dimensions embarked on the opportunity to obtain ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation for sampling, as a stand-alone activity. The only accreditation body that could provide this scope of accreditation was the ANSI National accreditation board (ANAB).
Some of the benefits of making use of the VGL Dimensions ISO/IEC 17025:2017-accredited sampling services include:
1. Impartiality
All sampling activities are done independently. There is no affiliation with the customer where sampling is executed, or with the testing laboratory. This ensures that all activities are executed impartially.
2. Personnel competency
The system follows a stringent training programme for all samplers according to approved procedures, which includes demonstrable knowledge of the items to be sampled and the processes or systems.
Competency assessment ensures that only trained, skilled and authorised staff can perform sampling. To prove competence, the sampler must successfully execute technical sampling procedures and personnel must prove they know how to follow procedures and handle any problems that may arise during the activities. Demonstration of competence assures that the sampling activity will be valid. If all the processes of sampling are managed and validated, then the reputation of the sampling laboratory will be sustainable. Continuous competency assessment of all samplers is done through witnessing of activities so as to ensure competence is maintained.
3. Environmental control
Environmental conditions from sampling site, through transportation and delivery at the laboratory, are monitored and recorded to ensure no adverse influences on the sample.
Sampling is conducted in a well-defined area to avoid difficulties in the execution of procedures, reduce the risk of contamination and cross-contamination, enable the proper execution of sampling methods and include all necessary safety and health precautions to the sampler and environment.
4. Equipment control
Equipment is controlled through performing externally-accredited calibrations and internal intermediate checks (verifications) to ensure all equipment operates optimally at all times. Equipment is traceable to international SI units of measurement to ensure metrological traceability is maintained. All equipment and auxiliary materials are maintained in clean and operational conditions. This is verified before and after use.
5. Use of sampling consumables/material
Only approved sampling material and consumables are used and procured through approved suppliers with the applicable certifications in place.
6. Sampling method competence
Sampling methods meet international scientifically-recognised principles and procedures.
Laboratory sampling methods are developed and validated according to scientifically-recognised principles. The use of recognised international sampling methods will ensure a standardised administrative and technical approach and will facilitate the interpretation of the results of sampling. Each sampler is trained and declared competent per sampling method. Samples are selected in such a way as to be representative of the entire sample available.
7. Traceability of sampling activities
Full traceability on each sampling activity, as described by the VGL Dimensions quality management system, can be made available for audit or verification purposes.
8. Reporting of sampling activities
For each sampling activity undertaken, a Certificate of Sampling is generated. The certificate includes, as a minimum, the unique certificate number, report date, customer information, sampling activity information (sampler name, plan, location, method, equipment used, sampling date, start time and end time), testing laboratory information (laboratory name, accreditation no, contact person, submission date and time, condition of the sample upon submission, samples received by, etc), sample information (unique number, type, description, sampling temperature, temperature upon submission at the lab, etc), sample photos and supplementary aspects of sampling (environmental conditions during sampling, information to evaluate measurement uncertainty for subsequent testing, etc).
Each Certificate of Sampling is evaluated by an approved technical signatory for accuracy and reliability of sampling activity outcome.
