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limited (for the time being) to the field ofquality systems certification, togetherwith the following signatories:

Name Country

JAS-ANZ Australia, New ZealandSCC CanadaCNACR ChinaJAB JapanANSI-RAB USASANAS South Africa

Finally, we note that ILAC intends to setup an international multilateral agree-ment in the fields of laboratories (calibra-tion and testing) and inspection bodiesaccreditations.

Conclusion

The job of Committee 1 is the heart ofEA’s activities. Mutual confidence in thework done by accredited entities is re-flected in the mutual confidence betweenthe accreditation bodies themselves.Within Europe, accreditation is beingused more and more as a tool to establishconfidence in the mandatory sphere.

So, we must continue to improve theway we work in order to be able to satis-fy not only our direct customers, but alsothe users of accredited services, mainlyindustry and public authorities.

This article is a presentation of the Euro-pean co-operation for Accreditation(EA). It starts with an overview of EA’sobjectives, organizational structure andactivities and concludes with presenta-tions of the activities of the permanentcommittees.

L. Ettarp 7 D. PierreEA Executive CommitteeEA Secretariatc/o SWEDACP.O. Box 878SE-50115 BoråsSwedenTel.: c46-33-17 77 45Fax: c46-33-10 13 92e-mail: katarina.wenell6swedac.se

INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEES

Chairpersons, members of relevant bodies, official authorities, scientificorganisations and their aims; addresses and other useful information

Accred Qual Assur (1998) 3 :512–513Q Springer-Verlag 1998

R. VisserW. Oussoren

Institute for Interlabora-tory Studies: What arewe? What do we do?

I.I.S. – Institute for InterlaboratoryStudies

The Institute for Interlaboratory Studies(I.I.S.) is an independent organisationthat provides various types of interlabora-tory studies (Round Robins or ringtests)for analytical laboratories. Next to theirsuccessful ongoing international programfor fuels, petroleum products and petro-chemicals, the Institute organises interla-boratory studies on foodstuffs and con-sumer products and also tailor made in-terlaboratory studies are organised on re-quest.

The Institute for Interlaboratory Stud-ies has a fair experience, a good qualitysystem (based on ISO Guide 43–1 (draft1996) and ELA G6), is state of the art

and has a large number of satisfied parti-cipants. It has registered for accreditationwith the ’Raad voor Accreditatieb, theDutch Accreditation Body. Furthermore,we comply with the criteria in ISO Guide43–2 (draft 1996) about competence, ef-fectiveness and fairness. The performanceof a laboratory that participates in one ofour proficiency tests, may be taken intoaccount by an Accreditation Body withconfidence.

Laboratories are more and moreaware of the specific advantages of parti-cipation in proficiency tests (PT’s, interla-boratory studies for evaluation of labora-tory performances). Furthermore, partici-pation is recommended and sometimeseven mandatory for accredited laborato-ries according to EN 45001 and EN45003. Therefore, the number of partici-pants in I.I.S. proficiency tests is increas-ing year after year.

I.I.S. organises global proficiency testsfor petroleum and petrochemical labora-tories on a regular basis. In a typical pro-ficiency test, for example for gasoil, over70 laboratories from 45 countries partici-pate. For petrochemicals usually only20–30 laboratories participate. Many la-boratories from large petroleum compa-nies, like Shell, Esso, Texaco, Kuwait,FINA, Mobil and BP participate sinceseveral years. This type of interlaboratorystudy has some extra difficult aspects (e.g.despatch of very flammable liquids).

In 1997, the Institute for Interlabora-tory Studies has started with proficiencytests for forbidden contaminants in textile(AZO dyes) and ground nuts (aflatox-ines). The organisation of this type ofstudies has its own problematic aspects,e.g. samples that are fit-for-purpose areusually hard to find and have to be pre-pared.

The tailor made interlaboratory stud-ies may be on petroleum products or pe-trochemicals, but also other type of prod-ucts, like soils, foodstuffs and gases havealready been subject for interlaboratorystudies. The tailor made interlaboratorystudy may be a collaborative trial, butmore often a proficiency test is requested.The interlaboratory study is set up to thewishes of the client, but the set-up will al-ways be based on international acceptedprotocols like ISO 5725, ASTM E691,AOAC, DIN 34802 or NEN 6303. Theamount of samples used for the interlabo-ratory study is depending on the finalgoal of the study.

All types of interlaboratory study or-ganised by the Institute for Interlaborato-ry Studies do have some advantages overmany other interlaboratory studies. Ho-mogeneity of the samples is checked pri-or to the sample despatch to the partici-pants. Feedback for the Institute to theparticipating laboratories is very fast.Within 2 days after the deadline of re-ceipt of analytical results, the participantsthat have produced suspect results are in-formed about their results. The anony-mous final report is issued approximatelyone month later. Furthermore, all organ-ised interlaboratory studies have partici-pants from many countries. The validatedsoftware, used for the statistical analyses,was developed by experts of the Institutefor Interlaboratory Studies.

513

The Institute for Interlaboratory Stud-ies started preparation of Reference Ma-terials in 1996. The Reference Materialsare certified during one or more interla-boratory studies. Until now, 5 ReferenceMaterials have been prepared successfully(two fuels and three petrochemicals).

More information at:http://www.IISnl.com

R. Visser and W. OussorenIIS – Institute for Interlaboratory Studies,Planetenlaan 2 – P.O. Box 82043301 CE DordrechtThe NetherlandsTel.: c31–78–65 45 362Fax: c31–78–61 85 540

BOOK REVIEW

Accred Qual Assur 3 :513Q Springer-Verlag 1998

Frederick M. Garfield

Quality assuranceprinciples for analyticallaboratoriesAOAC International,Gaithersburg, MD, USAISBN 0-935584-46-3

This book is the classic on accreditationand quality assurance. The recent publi-cation of the draft standard ISO/IEC DIS17025 “General requirements for thecompetence of testing and calibration la-boratories” by the International Organi-zation for Standardization (ISO) makesGarfield’s book even more important.The book contains all the details andknow-how that are absolutely necessaryfor a laboratory seeking accreditation, inorder to satisfy the Technical Require-ments in Clause 5 of the standard.

In Chap. 1 there is general informa-tion and recommendations on how to

proceed with Quality Assurance Plan-ning. The book gives good tips for theformat of the Quality Manual and rele-vant recommendations on how to planthe whole programme.

Chapter 2 deals with Statistical Appli-cation and Control Charts. This is writtenin an “easy to understand” style that con-tains all a laboratory chemist will need toknow.

Chapter 3 is about how to manage,supervise, train and evaluate laboratorypersonnel. It begins with the role of thelaboratory director, the role of the super-visors and with the responsibilities ofnon-supervisory staff. One can find veryimportant tips on pre-employment inter-views. In the section on training methods,the remarks on on-job training provideuseful advice. An essential part of per-sonnel management is Performance Ap-praisals which can be based on Self-Eval-uation.

Chapter 4 extends to the managementof equipment and supplies. It gives adviceon selection purchase, installation andservicing as well as preventive mainte-nance for equipment. This chapter is alsorelated to Clause 4.6 of ISO/IEC DIS17025: Purchasing services and supplies.An important section for all laboratoriesdeals with the supply of standard solu-

tions and purified water and specificallyfor microbiological laboratories the pur-chase/preparation of culture media.

Chapter 5 describes methods of sam-ple and record handling that conform toand Clause 5.8 Handling and transporta-tion of test and calibration items andClause 4.12 Records in ISO/IEC 17025.

In ISO/IEC 17025 sampling is in-cluded in the scope of accreditation of atesting laboratory, and Chap. 6 timelydeals with the sampling and sample anal-ysis requirements quoted in the newstandard.

Chapter 7 deals with proficiency andcheck samples, intralaboratory testingand, interlaboratory testing programmes.

Chapter 8 is devoted to audit proce-dures, Chap. 9 to laboratory safety andChap. 10 to accreditation.

To sum up: this book is a must forany laboratory and can be recommendedfor university studies and as a referencebook as well.

Michael ParkanyDigart Ltd.P.O. Box 108CH-1211 Geneva 19SwitzerlandTel./Fax: c41-22-798 65 82e-mail: parkany@digart.ch