Anachem is urging all accredited laboratories in the UK to embrace the new ISO 15189 standards for UKAS accreditation, believing that positive support for the new standards will only increase confidence in the results they produce by eliminating wherever possible the causes of variability in their protocols.

ISO 15189 emphasises the need for laboratories to implement calibration and testing regimes conforming to ISO 17025 for all pieces of equipment that may have a significant impact on results. Whether hand-held pipettes, pH meters or complex PCR thermocyclers, laboratories must demonstrate that they adhere to defined quality assurance levels and retain traceable records of consistent testing, competently performed.

The introduction of any new standard may seem daunting but trusted suppliers like Anachem can help. The key step to implementing ISO 15189 is to work out the impact on variability for every piece of equipment in every protocol, and then test and calibrate only the significant contributors to ISO 17025.

It is the influence that the scale of error has that is important rather than the size of the error itself. It may be that a large error in an individual instrument may not significantly influence the overall accuracy of a test. However, where it can be demonstrated that a tiny error will impact overall accuracy, 17025 is called for."

With over 30 years’ experience in supporting UK laboratories with quality products and ISO 17025 accredited testing and calibration services, Anachem is ideally placed to help and advise laboratories implementing ISO 15189. As part of the Mettler Toledo family, its expertise ranges from liquid-handling devices of all types to pH meters and balances. For more information on making your ISO 15189 implementation run more smoothly, please visit the website.

Anachem is a leading specialist distributor of liquid handling equipment to the laboratory community in the UK and Ireland, with over forty years of technical expertise and innovation. In addition to Rainin products, Anachem continues to supply and service a comprehensive range of laboratory equipment and consumables from other leading manufacturers.

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