06‐Jan‐18

ISO/IEC 17025:2017(EN)
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE COMPETENCE OF
TESTING AND CALIBRATION LABORATORIES
Ajchara Charoensook

ISO/IEC 17025 :2017

Table of contents
Foreword
Introduction 6 Resource requirements
1 Scope 6.1 General
2 Normative references 6.2 Personnel
3 Terms and definitions 6.3 Facilities and environmental
conditions
4 General requirements
6.4 Equipment
4.1 Impartiality
6.5 Metrological traceability
4.2 Confidentiality
6.6 Externally provided products and
5 Structural requirements services

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ISO/IEC 17025 :2017

7 Process requirements 8 Management system requirements

7.1 Review of requests, tenders and contracts 8.1 Options

7.2 Selection, verification and validation of methods 8.2 Management system documentation (Option A)

7.3 Sampling 8.3 Control of management system documents (Option A)

8.4 Control of records (Option A)
7.4 Handling of test or calibration items
8.5 Actions to address risks and opportunities (Option A)
7.5 Technical records
8.6 Improvement (Option A)
7.6 Evaluation of measurement uncertainty
8.7 Corrective actions (Option A)
7.7 Ensuring the validity of results
8.8 Internal audits (Option A)
7.8 Reporting of results
8.9 Management reviews (Option A)
7.9 Complaints
Annex A Metrological traceability
7.10 Nonconforming work Annex B Management system options
7.11 Control of data and information management Bibliography

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ISO/IEC 17025 :2017

The main changes
— the risk-based thinking applied in this edition has enabled
some reduction in prescriptive requirements and their replacement
by performance-based requirements;
— there is greater flexibility than in the previous edition in
the requirements for processes, procedures, documented information
and organizational responsibilities;
— a definition of “laboratory” has been added in definition.

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ISO/IEC 17025 :2017

In this document, the following verbal forms are used:
— “shall” indicates a requirement;
— “should” indicates a recommendation;
— “may” indicates a permission;
— “can” indicates a possibility or a capability.

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WHAT IS RISK-BASED THINKING?

The concept of risk has always been implicit in ISO 9001 –the 2015 revision
makes it more explicit and builds it into the whole management system
Risk-based thinking is already part of the process approach.
Risk-based thinking makes preventive action part of the routine.
Risk is often thought of only in the negative sense .
Risk-based thinking can also help to identify opportunities. This can be
considered to be the positive side of risk.

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1. SCOPE
This document specifies the general requirements for the competence,
impartiality and consistent operation of laboratories.
This document is applicable to all organizations performing laboratory
activities, regardless of the number of personnel.
Laboratory customers, regulatory authorities, organizations and schemes using
peer-assessment, accreditation bodies, and others use this document in
confirming or recognizing the competence of laboratories.

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2 NORMATIVE REFERENCES
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or
all of their content constitutes requirements of this document. For dated
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest
edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO/IEC Guide 99, International vocabulary of metrology — Basic and general
concepts and associated terms (VIM)1
ISO/IEC 17000, Conformity assessment — Vocabulary and general principles

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3 TERMS AND DEFINITIONS

For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given
in ISO/IEC Guide 99 and ISO/IEC 17000 and the following apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at
the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available
at https://www.iso.org/obp
— IEC Electropedia: available
at http://www.electropedia.org/

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3 TERMS AND DEFINITIONS

3.1 impartiality
presence of objectivity
Note 1 Objectivity means that conflicts of
interest do not exist, or are resolved so as not to
adversely influence subsequent activities of the laboratory (3.6).
Note 2 Other terms that are useful in conveying the element
of impartiality include “freedom from conflict of interests”,
“freedom from bias”, “lack of prejudice”, “neutrality”,
“fairness”, “open-mindedness”, “even-handedness”,
“detachment”, “balance”.

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3 TERMS AND DEFINITIONS

3.2 complaint
expression of dissatisfaction by any person or organization to a laboratory (3.6),
relating to the activities or results of that laboratory, where a response is expected
3.3 interlaboratory comparison
organization, performance and evaluation of measurements or tests on the same or
similar items by two or more laboratories in accordance with predetermined conditions
3.4 intralaboratory comparison
organization, performance and evaluation of measurements or tests on the same or
similar items within the same laboratory (3.6) in accordance with predetermined
conditions

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3 TERMS AND DEFINITIONS

3.5 Proficiency testing
Evaluation of participants performance against pre-established
criteria by means of interlabolatory comparison.
3.6 Laboratory
Body that performs one or more of the following activities;
- testing
- calibration
- sampling associated with subsequent testing or calibration

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3 TERMS AND DEFINITIONS

3.7 decision rule
rule that describes how measurement uncertainty is accounted for when
stating conformity with a specified requirement
3.8 verification
provision of objective evidence that a given item fulfils specified
requirements
3.9 validation
verification (3.8 ), where the specified requirements are adequate for an
intended use

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RISK MANAGEMENT
Requires the laboratory to plan and implement actions
to address risks and opportunities.
Establishes a basis for increasing the effectiveness of the
quality management system, achieving improved results
and preventing negative effects.
The laboratory is responsible for deciding which risks
and opportunities need to be addressed

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WHAT SHOULD WE DO ?
1. Identify what the risks and opportunities are in your
organization
2. Plan actions to address the risks
- how can I avoid or eliminate the risk?
- how can I mitigate the risk ?
3. Implement the plan – take action
4. Check the effectiveness of the actions – does it work?

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IMPARTIALITY (4.1)
In order to safeguard impartiality
- Establish structure
- Mitigate pressures
Identify & manage risks (ongoing basis)
Risks may come from…….
- its activities
- its relationship
- the relationship of its personnel
Demonstrate how to minimize or eliminate Risks

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CONFIDENTIALITY (4.2)
Legally enforceable commitment for management of information
obtained or created during the performance of laboratory
activities.
• Inform customer of if public exposure of information
• Third party communication requirement

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STRUCTURAL REQUIREMENTS (5)

Legal entity Laboratory activities can be ;
Identify management  Permanent facilities
 At sites away from its permanent
Define and document the facilities
laboratory activities
 Temporary
Meet the requirements of  Mobile facilities
 ISO/IEC 17025 :2017
 Customer’s facility.
 Customers
 Regulatory authorities and
organizations providing recognitions
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STRUCTURAL REQUIREMENTS (5)

 Define organization and management  Have personnel with authority and
structure and relationships between resources needed to carry out laboratory
management , technical operations and activities including: implementation,
support services; maintenance,improvement, identification of
deviations , initiation of actions to prevent or
 Specify responsibility ,authority and
minimize deviations ,reporting to
interrelationship of all personnel who
management on the performance of
manage , perform or verify works;
 Document its procedures to ensure management system .
consistency of works and validity of the
results.

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STRUCTURAL REQUIREMENTS (5)

Ensuring …
 the effectiveness of laboratory activities.
 Communication take place regarding the effective of the management
system and the importance of meeting customers and other requirements;
 Integrity of management system is maintained when changed to the
management system are planned and implemented.

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RESOURCE REQUIREMENTS (6)

Availability of personnel, facilities, equipment, systems and support services. (6.1)
Personnel (6.2)
 Act impartially, be competent and work in accordance with lab’s management
system
 Evidences of the competence requirements (education, qualification, training,
technical knowledge ,skills and experience)
 Competence to perform laboratory activities and to evaluate the significance of
deviations
 Communicate to personnel their duties, responsibilities and authorities.

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FACILITIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS ( 6.3)

 Suitable for laboratory activities and not adversely affect the validity
of results
 Documented requirements for facilities and environmental conditions
 Monitor, control and record environmental conditions
 Measures to control facilities including:
 Access to and use of areas affecting laboratory activities;
 Prevention of contamination, interference or adverse influences on laboratory activities;
 Effective separation between areas with incompatible laboratory activities.
 Ensure that environmental conditions are met when performing outside
its permanent control

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EQUIPMENT (6.4)
 Available and function properly  Action for out of service
 Conform with specification before place  Intermediate checks
into service
 Update/implement correction factors or
 Capable to achieve required accuracy
reference values
 Calibration of measuring equipment
 Measures to prevent unintended
 Establish calibration program
adjustment
 Calibration status
 Equipement records

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METROLOGICAL TRACEABILITY (6.5)

 Establish and maintain metrological traceability of its measurement results
 Ensure that measurement results are traceable to the SI units:
 Competent laboratory;
 Competent producer;
 Comparison, directly or indirectly with national or international standards.
 Demonstrate metrological traceability to an appropriate reference when not
technical possible to the SI units:
 Competent producer;
 Suitable comparison.

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EXTERNALLY PROVIDED PRODUCTS AND SERVICES (6.6)

Ensure that suitable externally provided products and
services are used when products and services:
Are intended for incorporation into the laboratory’s own activities;
Are provided ,in part or in full, directly to the customer by the
laboratory as received from the external provider;
Are used to support the operation of the laboratory.

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PROCESS REQUIREMENTS (7)

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REVIEW OF REQUESTS,TENDERS AND CONTRACTS (7.1)

Have a procedure for the review  Repeat contract review if amended
 Inform customer when method after work and communicate to all
requested by the customer is not affected personnel
appropriate or out of date
 Clearly defined a statement of  Cooperate with customers or their
conformity when requested by the representatives in clarifying the
customer customer’s request and in monitoring
the laboratory’s performance in
 Resolve any difference between the relation to the work performed
request or tender and the contract  Retain records of reviews
before commencing work
 Inform customer if any deviation
from the contract
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SELECTION, VERIFICATION AND VALIDATION OF METHODS (7.2)

 Use appropriate methods and  Have Action plan for method
procedures for all laboratory activities development
 Up to date methods, procedures and  Document, technically justify,
supporting documents are kept and authorize and accept by the customer
made readily available to personnel if any deviation from methods
 Uses the latest version unless not  Validate non –standard methods ,
possible to do laboratory developed methods and
standard methods used
 Select appropriate method when
customer does not specify outside their intended scope or
modify
 Verify methods before introducing
them to ensure it can achieve the  Retain records of validation
required performance.

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SAMPLING (7.3)
 Sampling plan
 Sampling method
 Retain records

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HANDLING OF TEST OR CALIBRATION ITEMS (7.4)

 Have a procedure
 Have a system for unambiguous identification
 Records of the item
 Facilities to maintain items

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TECHNICAL RECORDS (7.5)

 Sufficient information
 Amendment can be tracked to previous versions or
original observations

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EVALUATION OF MEASUREMENT UNCERTAINTY

(7.6)
 Identify the contributions to measurement uncertainty
 Evaluate for all calibrations (calibration lab)
 Evaluate measurement uncertainty where test method precludes
rigorous evaluation of measurement uncertainty

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ENSURING THE VALIDITY OF RESULTS (7.7)

 Have a procedure for monitoring the validity of results
 Monitor its performance by comparison with results of other
laboratories
 Analyze and use data from monitoring to control and improve
the laboratory’s activities
 Take action when data from the monitoring are found to be outside
pre-defined criteria

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REPORTING THE RESULTS (7.8)

 General – review and authorize prior to release
 Common requirements for reports
 Specific requirements for test reports
 Specific requirements for calibration certificates
 Specific requirements for reporting sampling
 Reporting statements of conformity
 Reporting opinions and interpretations
 Amendments to reports

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COMPLAINTS (7.9)
 Have a documented process to receive ,  Responsible for gathering and
evaluate and make decision on complaints verifying all information to validate the
 Responsible for all decisions at all levels of complaint
handling process of complaints and made  Acknowledge receipt of the complaint,
availability of description of handling
and provide the complainant with
process for complaints to interested party
progress report and outcome
 Include at least the following elements and
method:  Review, approve the outcomes by
 Description of the process
individual (s) not involved in the
 Tracking and recording complaints
original laboratory activities in
question
 Ensuring that appropriate action is taken
 Give formal notice of the end of the
complaint handling to the complainant

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NONCONFORMING WORK (7.10)

 Have procedure to ensure that  Retain records of NC work and actions
 Responsibilities and authorities for the taken
management of NC work are defined;  Implement corrective action where the
 Actions are based upon the risk levels evaluation indicates that the NC work
established by the laboratory; could recur or is doubt about the
 An evaluation is made of the significance of conformity of laboratory’s operation
NC work, including an impact analysis on
previous results;
 A decision is taken on the acceptability of
NC work;
 Where necessary ,the customer is notified
and work is recalled;
 The responsibility for authorizing the
resumption of work is defined.

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CONTROL OF DATA AND INFORMATION

MANAGEMENT ( 7.11)
 Have access to the data and information needed to perform laboratory activities
 Validate information management system for functionality
 Protect from unauthorized access, safeguard against tampering and loss, operate in
suitable environment , maintain integrity of data, record system failures and
corrective actions
 Ensure the provider or operator of the system complies when manage and maintain
off-site or through an external provider.
 Ensure that instructions, manuals and reference data relevant to laboratory
information system are made readily available to personnel
 Check calculations and data transfers in an appropriate and systematic manner

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MANAGEMENT REQUIREMENTS (8)

Option A
 At a minimum the laboratory addresses 8.2 – 8.9
Option B
 A laboratory that has established and maintains a management system, in
accordance with the requirements of ISO 9001, and that is capable of
supporting and demonstrating the consistent fulfilment of the requirements of
clauses 4 to 7 of ISO/IEC 17025
 Also fulfils at least the intent of the management system section requirements
(8.2 - 8.9)

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MANAGEMENT SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION (8.2)

MS Documentation - Policies & Objectives for the fulfilment of the purpose of
ISO/IEC 17025
 Establish ,document and maintain
 Acknowledge and implement at all levels of the laboratory organization
 Address the competence, impartiality and consistent of the operation
 Make reference or link to other documents
 Easy to access by relevant personnel

EVIDENCES of commitment to the development and implementation of

the MS and to continually improving its effectiveness.

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CONTROL OF MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

DOCUMENTATION (8.3)
Ensure
Approve prior to issue
Review / update
Identification of current revision / changes
Available at point of use
Uniquely identify
Unintended use of obsolete documents

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CONTROLS OF RECORDS (8.4)

 Establish and retain legible records
 Implement the controls
 Retain for a period consistent with its contractual obligations
 Readily available

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ACTIONS TO ADDRESS RISKS AND

OPPORTUNITIES(8.5)
 Action plan to address risks and opportunities
 Integrate and implement actions
 Evaluate the effectiveness of actions

Actions taken shall be proportional to the potential impact on

the validity of laboratory results

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IMPROVEMENT (8.6)
 Identify and select opportunities for improvement
 Implementation
 Seek feed back & use and analyze feed back to improve the MS

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CORRECTIVE ACTIONS (8.7)

 React to NC
 Evaluate the need for action & implement
 Review the effectiveness
 Update risk & opportunities
 Make changes to the MS
 Retain records

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INTERNAL AUDITS (8.8)

 Conduct as planned intervals
 Plan , establish and maintain audit program
 Define the audit criteria and scope for each audit
 Report the results to relevant management
 Implement correction and corrective actions without undue delay
 Retain records

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MANAGEMENT REVIEWS(8.9)
 Review at planned intervals
 Record all inputs to the management review
 Record all decisions and actions of output

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ANNEX A (INFORMATIVE) METROLOGICAL TRACEABILITY

Traceability established by: Demonstration of Traceability

 Definition of the measurand  Evaluate the technical competence of the
 Unbroken chain of calibration provider and claimed
comparisons/cals metrological traceability as per the
requirements of this standard
 Measurement uncertainty
 CMCs peer reviewed by international
 Performed in accordance with
arrangement
documented information
 CIPM MRA or ILAC
 Competence

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ANNEX B (INFORMATIVE) MANAGEMENT SYSTEM OPTIONS

 Option A of clause 8 : operate generally in accordance with the

principles of ISO 9001.

 Option B of clause 8 : allow to establish and maintain a management

system in accordance with the requirements of ISO 9001.

 Both options are intended to achieve the same result in the performance
system and compliance with Clauses 4 to 7.

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THANK YOU
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