What is Proficiency Testing (PT)?

• Proficiency Testing (PT) is the name used by the International Standards Organization (ISO) for a procedure also known as “inter-laboratory study” or “external quality assessment”.
• The ISO/IEC 17025 – 7.7.2 – P:22 accreditation of a laboratory includes a requirement to monitor the quality of analytical results through PT involvement.
• Proficiency testing, in simple terms, comprises a sample sent to a group of laboratories for measurement. The labs know what might be in the sample, but they don’t know exactly what is there or the concentration.
• The most typical application of proficiency testing is to show a regulatory agency or accreditation body that a laboratory is qualified and competent to carry out a particular analytical test or technology.

Benefits of PT

• Confirming competent performance
• Identifying testing or measurement problems
• Comparing methods and procedures
• Improving performance
• Educating staff
• Instilling confidence in staff, management and external users of laboratory services
• Comparing operator capabilities
• Generating reference materials
• Determining method precision and accuracy
• Satisfying regulators and accreditation bodies
• Providing laboratories with additional risk management

How to apply?

Step 1: Sign up for a “PT program” promoted by a PT provider (AL-Hadeetha company).
Step 2: Pay the registration cost, if required, and give the PT Provider the payment documentation.
Step 3: A PT sample will be provided to your laboratory. As part of usual work, analyze the PT sample.
Step 4: Submit the PT test results and then PT Provider will send you the PT report by the deadline.