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The Loam Ranger – Inter-laboratory proficiency testing

Dear Loam Ranger,

How do I know that the test results you send me are correct?

When we send you your test results (soil, plant tissue, water etc.), we are confident of our results. But how do we know that they are accurate? And how do you know they are?

SESL participates in a continuous program of inter-laboratory proficiency testing under the auspices of four testing authorities: NATA (the National Association of Testing Authorities), Standards Australia, ASPAC (the Australasian Soil and Plant Analysis Council) and the USGA (United States Golf Association).

ASPAC and the USGA send participating labs regular sets of material samples (generally every quarter) identified only by a code number. We analyse the samples just as we do our clients’ samples, and then send the results back to the authorities. The authorities then compare our results against their standard results, and let us know how we went.

If we have made a mistake, we can track the sample record back through the testing process and identify where we went wrong, and therefore correct our procedure. But we’re pleased to say that we’re always correct. And that’s how we know.

NATA and Standards Australia set the standards that we are required to follow in our work.

QA & QC

This process of independent verification by a third party is called quality assurance, or QA. In-house, we also follow a continuous process of quality control or QC. QC verifies that we have followed the recipe properly all the way through the testing process. QA verifies that we have followed the correct recipe.

NATA accreditation ...

SESL is currently working on NATA accreditation. This requires a 1-day on-site assessment, which we hope will be held in the next couple of months. According to NATA, “The objective of the assessment is to establish whether the laboratory can competently perform the tests/examinations for which accreditation is sought. The assessment team is required to investigate the operation of the laboratory against the NATA Accreditation Requirements for this field and report its findings to both the laboratory seeking accreditation and NATA’s Accreditation Advisory Committee for that field of testing.”

NATA accreditation is an official (government-recognised), independent verification of a laboratory’s ability to carry out tests according to world’s best practice, and is recognised worldwide. We’ll keep you up to date on our application.

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