Benefits of opting for accredited laboratories and differences compared to non-accredited laboratories
In a world flooded with information, discerning the reliability and quality of a laboratory's services has become essential. Accreditation provides a solid basis for making informed and confident decisions in a variety of sectors, from healthcare or food safety to environmental protection.
In this post, we talk about the differences between accredited and non-accredited laboratories. We will explain the advantages of hiring accredited laboratories, and show how to find them. Additionally, we will talk about the information that appears in the accreditation scope.
What are accredited laboratories?
An accredited laboratory is one that has demonstrated its technical competence and ability to produce accurate and reliable results in a specific area. Accreditation is granted after the laboratory has been evaluated by a nationally or internationally recognized accreditation body, and has demonstrated compliance with rigorous standards established for its particular field.
The evaluation includes facilities, personnel, equipment and procedures. This accreditation serves as the globally recognized tool for selecting reliable service providers. Once accredited, the laboratory is committed to maintaining these standards through regular audits and continuous updates to ensure excellence in its services.
ENAC
La National Accreditation Entity (ENAC), is the National Accreditation Body designated by the Government in application of the Reregulation (EC) nº765/2008 which regulates the operation of accreditation in Europe based on five fundamental principles:
- Non-profit
- International evaluation
- Independence
- mutual recognition
- Non-compete
As the National Accreditation Entity itself explains, ENAC is the representative of Spain in the international organizations that make up the iglobal accreditation infrastructure.
Differences between accredited and non-accredited laboratories
When a company seeks testing or calibration services, the choice between accredited and non-accredited laboratories becomes crucial to ensure maximum technical competence and avoid unnecessary risks. As explained above, accredited laboratories have demonstrated the necessary technical strength, supported by a thorough assessment of their competence by recognized accreditation bodies. On the other hand, by opting for non-accredited laboratories, the company is based solely on personal confidence in the laboratory's claims, which can result in decisions with adverse consequences for the quality of products.
An accredited laboratory ensures that it has competent personnel, adequate equipment and facilities, proper calibration and maintenance of equipment, performance of tests or calibrations using valid methods, performance of methods with technical expertise according to best practices, and subjection to strict quality control. quality. These standards are evaluated and endorsed by accreditation bodies such as ENAC, who carry out rigorous audits with highly specialized technical experts. Hiring a non-accredited laboratory, on the other hand, does not guarantee any of these critical aspects.
Below is an image that illustrates the difference between the information that a company, and also its clients, know when choosing between an accredited laboratory and a non-accredited one:
Source: ENAC
Opting for an accredited laboratory provides greater confidence in the quality and reliability of test results, backed by official recognition from the EU and accreditation bodies in more than 100 countries.
Advantages of hiring accredited laboratories
When a company makes the decision to trust accredited laboratories, it is not only opting for quality, but it is also ensuring a series of tangible advantages that directly influence its operational efficiency and its position in the market. Here, we highlight how these strategic choices can translate into concrete benefits, as explained by the company itself. ENAC.
Safety in products and services
Opting for tests carried out by accredited laboratories significantly reduces the risk of producing or supplying defective products, which strengthens the company's reputation and increases customer confidence.
Economic savings
The use of accredited laboratories represents significant financial savings in the long term. By reducing the possibility of redundant assessments, the costs and time associated with retesting are minimized, increasing operational efficiency and improving profitability.
Continuous operational efficiency
Accreditation guarantees continuous control of suppliers, since accredited laboratories are periodically audited. This constant adaptation of processes guarantees that the results are the most reliable on the market, allowing effective management of suppliers and products.
Access to global markets
The accreditation of ENAC is recognized and accepted in more than 100 countries, making it easier to accept the results of accredited evaluators in foreign markets. This reduces costs associated with repeat testing and opens up new business opportunities for manufacturers and exporters.
Prestige and trust
Accredited laboratories provide a high degree of reliability and recognition to products or services, which improves the company's image and increases customer confidence.
Legal security
Accreditation is an internationally established tool that supports a company's due diligence in the event of legal action, providing invaluable legal certainty.
Access to public purchases
The use of accredited laboratories is increasingly prioritized in public procurement documents, allowing companies to access opportunities in the public sector and comply with national and international regulations.
In summary, hiring accredited laboratories not only guarantees the quality and reliability of the results, but also provides a series of benefits that strengthen the competitive position and prestige of the company in the global market.
How to search for accredited laboratories?
The process of searching for accredited laboratories is quick and simple thanks to the tool provided by the ENAC website. With just a few clicks, it is possible to access a complete list of laboratories that have been rigorously evaluated and accredited by ENAC.
Next, we will explain the steps to use this tool:
- Access ENAC search engine through its website.
- Apply search filters: Use the available filters to refine your search according to specific needs. It is possible to filter by laboratory name, type of assay or calibration, geographic location, among other criteria.
- Review the results: Once the filters have been applied, review the results. ENAC provides a detailed list of accredited laboratories that meet the search criteria, offering key information about each laboratory's location, services, and scope of accreditation.
- Consult the Scope of Accreditation: Along with basic laboratory information, ENAC provides the scope of accreditation for each center. This section is crucial for understanding which specific services are covered by accreditation and ensuring they meet specific needs.
What information appears in the accreditation scope?
The scope of accreditation refers to the set of specific activities, tests, trials, calibrations or services for which an entity has been evaluated and accredited by a recognized accreditation body, such as ENAC in Spain.
The accreditation scopes provided by ENAC contain detailed information about the specific activities for which an entity has demonstrated technical competence and compliance with international or national standards. These scopes describe the exact services that the entity is authorized to perform within its accreditation area.
They typically include information about:
- Description of services: Details about the activities or services that the entity is accredited to carry out, such as tests, trials, calibrations, inspections, among others.
- Applicable regulations and standards: Specifications of the rules, regulations, test methods or technical standards that the entity must comply with when performing its accredited services.
- Scope of application: Indication of the products, materials, processes or industrial sectors to which the accreditation applies. This may include a detailed list of covered products or services.
- Specific conditions: Any special conditions or restrictions associated with the provision of accredited services.
- Date of issue: Information on the date of issue of the scope of accreditation, as well as its last review.
Eyco
The quality system of Eyco is accredited by ENAC, according to the UNE-EN ISO/IEC 17025:2017 Standard, which includes the general requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories.
Since 2016, Eyco has been recognized by ENAC as a calibration laboratory. Since then, Eyco has dedicated resources and efforts not only to maintaining its accredited status but also to expanding the scope of its services covered by accreditation. Currently, Eyco is recognized as accredited laboratory both for calibration and for testing, with files 1238LC10.195 and 232LE2374.
ENAC accreditation certifies that at Eyco, equipment is calibrated ensuring traceability to national and international standards, in compliance with current regulations. Certificates issued by Eyco meet the requirements established by the ISO-9001 Standard regarding the control of monitoring and measurement devices.
The procedures used for calibration and testing have been audited by competent personnel and compared with external laboratories. Furthermore, Eyco always calculates measurement uncertainties in accordance with document EA-4/02 M: 2013, entitled "Expression of Measurement Uncertainty in Calibration," developed by the EA (European Accreditation) Laboratory Committee.
FAQ
What is an accredited laboratory?
Un accredited laboratory An accredited laboratory is one that has formally demonstrated its technical competence to perform specific tests or calibrations. Unlike a general certification (such as ISO 9001), accreditation (under standards such as ISO/IEC 17025) thoroughly evaluates the laboratory's personnel, facilities, testing methods, and measurement traceability.
What advantages does hiring an accredited laboratory bring to my company?
Hiring accredited services minimizes risks, reduces the possibility of obtaining erroneous results, and provides legal and commercial securityFurthermore, reports and certificates issued under accreditation have international recognition thanks to mutual recognition agreements, which facilitates the export of your products to other markets without repeating analyses.
Who is responsible for accrediting laboratories in Spain?
In Spain, the entity designated for this task is ENAC (National Accreditation Entity)ENAC is the only body with public authority to declare the technical competence of testing and calibration laboratories in accordance with international standards.
How can I find an accredited laboratory and verify its scope?
To find a trustworthy provider and verify that their services are backed by official accreditation, these steps should be followed:
- Access the official website of ENAC and enter their "Accredited Search Engine" section.
- Filter the search by entering key parameters such as the type of activity (testing or calibration), the product/equipment, or the technical area.
- Locate the laboratory in the results and download their Technical Annex or Scope of Accreditation in PDF.
- Carefully review the document to ensure that the measurement range, uncertainty, and specific method you need are explicitly included.
What is the scope of Eyco's accreditation?
Eyco It has the largest calibration and testing capacity accredited by ENAC in Spain in the area of optical properties of the subject. Our scope covers the calibration of spectrophotometric equipment, colorimeters, glossmeters, among others, and the performance of technical tests to evaluate the optical properties of materials.
