The 3rd GCC Laboratory Proficiency Conference is organized as part of the strategic orientations of the GCC Standardization Organization (GSO) for the development of the standardization and quality infrastructure, thereby contributing to the development of commerce and industry and to the support of national economy in the GCC member states. Since the field of proficiency testing is newly introduced in the GCC member states and as the infrastructure of laboratories has not yet taken the shape of national or regional organizations representing the laboratories and reflecting their requirements, GSO is in need of meeting with a considerable group of laboratories to explore and prioritize GCC member states’ requirements in terms of the fields which must top the list of the fields to be developed and upgraded. Based on the study conducted by GSO during 2011 on the status of proficiency testing activities in the member states which shown that the laboratories operating in the member states are in need of a unified data center on proficiency testing activities, GSO organized two conferences in 2013 and 2014 on the subject. The conferences scored high rates of success in terms of the selected scientific material, quality of speakers and the targeted audience. Accordingly, GSO conceptualization of the method of coordinating and upgrading the activity of proficiency tests in the GCC member states included a recommendation on the organization of annual training courses and awareness symposia by the GSO on the fields of proficiency tests. This year’s Conference will be held in Dubai during two days the 24th and 25th of March 2015, and will coincide with the annual Analytical Industry exhibition ARABLAB which will be held in Dubai during the period 23 – 26 March 2015.

1. © ASTM International
GCC Countries Proficiency Testing:
Story of Success

2. © ASTM International 2
Helping Our World Work Better
12,000+ ASTM
standards
operate globally
- Not-for Profit
- Non-governmental
Independent Standards
Organization
- Established in 1898
Applied to just
about everything
from Petroleum
to Textiles.
Standards that
improve
the lives
of millions
every day
What is ASTM?
29 January 2015

3. © ASTM International 3
Accreditation and Proficiency Testing (PT)
- To achieve initial accreditation a laboratory must be
able to demonstrate successful participation in at least
one PT event
- A laboratory must develop a plan to demonstrate
how they will prove their competency within the test
methods/technologies under their scope of accreditation
- This PT plan must include commercially available and
relevant PT, such as PT offered by ASTM
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ASTM is not a laboratory Accreditation Agency, but we provide PT

4. © ASTM International 4
Benefits of Proficiency Testing
- Discover sources of error
- Detect systematic errors
- Improve precision (inconsistency)
- Enhance internal method comparison
- Interpret effectiveness of changes
- Establish a common understanding of test method differences
- Discovery of test method sensitivities
- Demonstrate effectiveness of changes
- To test methods
- To test instructions
Education
- Provide interpretive information
- Impart on new or rare analytes and matrices
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Laboratory Improvement

5. © ASTM International 5
Over 85 years of Proficiency Testing Experience
ASTM Proficiency Testing Programs (PTP)
 Launched in 1929, the program has grown to
include several different facets and material types
 We provide uniform, homogenous samples
analyzed by participating labs using specified
methods; and results are reported for statistical
treatment
 Post testing we issue a program-specific statistical
report summarizing the testing performed by labs
across the world
52
proficiency testing
programs involve 4,700
Laboratories and 6,500
units of participation
58% of participation
from outside USA
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• Petroleum products
• Plastics
• Metals
• Aromatic hydrocarbons
• Insulating fluids
• Engine coolants
• Cement & Concrete
• Rebar testing
• Textiles, and more

6. © ASTM International 6
ASTM Proficiency Testing Program
 We deliver a program designed as a statistical quality control
tool enabling participating laboratories to assess their
performance in conducting ASTM or other committee approved
test methods, such as ISO, IP, EN,BSI,UOP, AATCC, etc.
 We provide management and the administrative support
o Program registration, sample preparation and distribution,
data collection and generation of statistical summary
reports
 We coordinate the preparation and distribution of test samples
o Test samples are prepared by outside contractors
 We administer reporting instructions, lab test worksheets and
electronic data report forms for submitting lab data, all
accessible on the ASTM PTP website portal
PTP’s
facilitating
proficiency in
exercising over
400 different
test methods
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What We Provide

7. © ASTM International 7
ASTM Proficiency Testing Program
− Helps satisfy laboratory accreditation requirements
− Lab Quality Assurance
− Data for monitoring lab strengths and
weaknesses
− Residual sample material useful as internal
QA sample
− Enables you to evaluate other test methods
− Demonstrates your testing capability to customers
− Test results and associated statistics help ASTM
validate test method performance under real world
conditions
− Data is used by sponsoring ASTM committees to
obtain valuable feedback on methods for
continuous improvement
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Other Benefits of Participation

8. © ASTM International 8
ASTM Proficiency Testing Program
Types and Expertise
Metals Testing
 Mechanical Properties Testing of Metals
 Plain Carbon and Low-Alloy Steel (Chemical
Analysis)
 Stainless Steel (Chemical Analysis)
 Aluminum (Chemical Analysis)
 Determination of Gold in Bullion
11PTP Programs
in Metals and
Plastics Testing
Plastics Testing
 Polyethylene Plastics Testing
 Multiplastics - Mechanical Properties Testing
 Polypropylene - Mechanical Properties Testing
 Flammability of Plastics Testing
 Thermal Analyses of Plastics
 Elemental Analyses of Plastics
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Visit us on the web at http://www.astm.org/STATQA/index.html

9. © ASTM International 9
ASTM Proficiency Testing Program Types
Aromatic Hydrocarbon Testing &
 Aromatic Hydrocarbons
 Engine Coolants
 Diesel Exhaust Fluids
14PTP Programs in
Aromatic Hydrocarbons,
Textiles, Cement and
Concrete and Electrical
Insulating Fluids
Aqueous Solution Testing
 Insulation Fluid Quality– In-Service
Insulating Fluid
 Dissolved Gas Analyses
Electrical Insulating Fluids
 Heavy, Medium, and Heavy Fabric
 Yarns and Threads
Textiles Testing
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Cement and Concrete Testing
- Cement
- Concrete
- Aggregate
- Steel Reinforcing Bars
- Pozzolan
- Slag Cement
- Masonry

10. © ASTM International 10
ASTM Proficiency Testing Program Types
Petroleum Products and Lubricants
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Different proficiency
testing programs in
petroleum based products
─ Turbine Oils
─ Lubricating Greases
─ Crude Oils
─ In-Service Diesel Oils
─ In-Service Hydraulic Fluid Oils
─ Base Oils
─ Petroleum Wax
─ General Gas Oils
─ Ultra-low Sulfur Diesel
─ Fuel Ethanol
─ Biodiesel(B100) Fuel
─ Petroleum Coke
─ Octane Testing
− Engine Oil Lubricants
− #2 Diesel Fuel
− Aviation Turbine Fuel - (Jet A) Fuel
− Military Aviation Turbine - (JP8) Fuel
− Motor Gasoline
− Reformulated Gasoline
− #6 Fuel Oil
− Automatic Transmission Fluid
− Gear Oils
− Industrial Gear Oils
− Hydraulic Fluids & Oils
− Automotive Lubricant Additives
− Naphtha
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11. © ASTM International 15 April 2015 11
ASTM Proficiency Testing Program -
Participation in GCC Countries
ASTM PTP MAP
 Unites Arab Emirates – 32 laboratories, participating
in 42 different programs
 Saudi Arabia – 24 laboratories participating in 23
different programs
 Kuwait – 5 laboratories participating in 10 different
programs
 Bahrain – 3 laboratories participating in 7 different
programs
 Qatar – 6 laboratories participating in 9 different
programs
 Oman – 4 laboratories participating in 6 different
programs
 All labs above take part in our testing programs, such
as Petroleum Products, Plastics, Metals, Aqueous
Solution Products, Insulating Fluids, and Textiles
testing

12. © ASTM International 15 April 2015 12
UAE Abu Dhabi Quality Conformity Council
Ongoing Success - 37 Different ASTM Proficiency Testing Programs
 Program Types:
 Petroleum Products
 Aqueous Solution Products
 Electrical Insulating Fluids
 Textiles Testing
 Metals Testing
 Plastics Testing

13. © ASTM International 15 April 2015 13
ASTM Proficiency Testing Programs Now
Available on the GCC and EPTIS Websites
Please view our programs at these respected websites:
GCC: http://www.gso.org.sa/gso-website/gso-website/activities/accreditation/pten
EPTIS: http://www.eptis.bam.de/en/index.htm

14. © ASTM International 15 April 2015 14
ASTM Proficiency Testing Registration
All attributes of program
participation are online.
 View all program information
 Annual cost of the program
 Test cycle schedule
 Sample type/quantity details
 Test methods used
 Register for the program
Click here to register

15. © ASTM International 15
My ASTM Proficiency Testing Website Portal
A Paperless Service
 You are provided with a
PTP account number and
unique password to
access our PTP website
portal
 This is a one stop service
point for ASTM’s PTP
anywhere in the world, 24
hours a day
“Your Company Name”
Click here
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16. © ASTM International 16
My ASTM Proficiency Testing Website Portal
PTP Website Portal Features
 A company can see all
of the PTP programs it
participates in
• Enter data
• View reports
• View important dates
• View your submitted
data
• Download documents
o Lab instructions
o Lab worksheets
0123456
Your "Company Name”
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17. © ASTM International
In Conclusion
- Proficiency testing is a critical component of the accreditation
process.
• Assists laboratories by giving them a tool to achieve
accreditation
• Allows all laboratories worldwide to compare their data
against their piers
• Helps users familiarize themselves with ASTM test
methods and the test method process improvement.
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18. © ASTM International 18
Questions
Thank you for attending.
If you have any questions please contact :
ASTM International
Steve Hepburn, Director of Proficiency Testing
Email: shepburn@astm.org
Phone: (610) 832-9688
29 January 2015