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. Proficiency Testing in
Accreditation process
Eng. Mahmoud Eltayeb
ARAC Chair
24 March 2015

2. PT Programs
PT
programs
PT
programs
Accreditation
Bodies
Accreditation
Bodies
LaboratoriesLaboratories
Reference Material
&
Reference standards
Reference Material
&
Reference standards
Test / Cal
Methods
Test / Cal
Methods
Users of labs services
&
Regulators
Users of labs services
&
Regulators
LaboratoriesLaboratories
LaboratoriesLaboratories

3. Why is PT programs ?
 Effective tool to assess the competence of
laboratories and to monitor their performance.
 Satisfying Accreditation Bodies and regulators
 Comparing methods and procedures.
 An early warning-system for problems
 Improving performance.
 Educating Lab personnel

4. ILAC requirements on PT
 ILAC- P9: 06/2014 “ILAC Policy for
Participation in Proficiency Testing
Activities"
 This document sets out the policy for
accreditation bodies on the use of PT
activities in the accreditation process.
 Applied to testing , cal and medical labs
also to inspection bodies where relevant.

5. ILAC requirements on PT
 ILAC- P9: 06/2014 “ILAC Policy for
Participation in Proficiency Testing
Activities"
 Minimum PT activities: satisfactory
participation prior to gaining accreditation.
 Further and ongoing activity that is
appropriate to the scope of accreditation.
 PT plans prepared by lab & reviewed by AB

6. PT at Regional Level
 Regional groups establish their polices for
frequency of participation and guidelines to
assist accreditation bodies to set their PT
policies.
 ARAC management system includes
procedure PR 012 for the planning,
preparation, execution and reporting of PT.

7. PT at Regional Level
 Some ARAC members specially in Egypt and
Dubai have resources through local PT
providers in calibration and testing.
 Within the frame work of MOU between ARAC
and APLAC , testing Laboratories nominated
by ARAC AB members have participated in 8
PT schemes organized by APLAC during
year 2014 in addition to the current schemes.

8. PT at Regional Level
 ARAC business plan includes activities to
build its capacity in PT schemes.
 The program to support ARAC by UNIDO &
SIDA for the next 4 years includes key
activities to support PT in ARAC region.

9. PT at Accreditation Body Level
 PT in Accreditation Bodies Requirements
 The accreditation body to take into account
during the assessment and the decision
making process, the labs participation and
performance in PT.

10. PT at Accreditation Body Level
 PT in Accreditation Bodies Requirements
 The accreditation body to maintain a list of
appropriate PT programs.
 The accreditation body to ensure that the
accredited labs participate in PT programs.
 Corrective actions are carried out when
necessary.

11. PT at Accreditation Body Level
 PT in Accreditation Bodies Requirements
 To specify the minimum amount and
frequency of participation in cooperation with
the interested parties.
 PT may also be used in many types of
inspection.

12. Thank YouThank You