Accreditation Procedures

BD-091007-05 GAC

AC 7.0 Proficiency Testing Participation

Update History
The following table shows the changes that have been made to each version of this document
and who made them:

Version Issued Modified by Comments

1 01 August 2013 Brahim Houla Creation
2 03 November 2015 Ali Gallas - Remove the measurement audit,
- 4: add the link to AC 4.2 and AC 7.1.

Version: 2 Page 1 of 2

Date: 03 November 2015

Approved by: Brahim Houla

Accreditation Procedures

BD-091007-05 GAC

AC 7.0 Proficiency Testing Participation

1. Purpose

The purpose of this procedure is to outline the considerations that should be given by the
Lead Assessor and assessment team in relation to the conformity assessment bodies
participation in proficiency testing.

2. Scope

This procedure covers the assessment of involvement in proficiency testing by Applicants and
GAC accredited conformity assessment bodies, principally laboratories.

3. Responsibilities

The Lead Assessor arranging the (re)assessment is responsible to ensure the compliance of
the CAB with GAC policy for PT participation.

4 Procedure

CABs are encouraged to participate in proficiency testing programs as often as possible taking
into account the cost and availability of such programs. As a minimum, however, they should
participate in available programs at two-yearly intervals (See GAC Technical Note 4).

Proficiency testing programs operated by accredited providers are preferred.

GAC policy on proficiency testing is established in view of the ILAC requirements for
accreditation bodies on the use of proficiency testing activities in the accreditation process
for laboratories and where relevant, inspection bodies (ILAC P9).

Where available and relevant, proficiency testing is an integral part of the GACs assessment
and surveillance systems. Accreditation decisions are not based on proficiency tests alone,
rather they are one element of the evidence used by GAC to arrive at its decisions.

In the case of the initial assessment an applicant for accreditation for testing, calibration or
inspection, GAC may require the applicant to conduct one or more tests on materials provided
by GAC and to submit its results to GAC before accreditation will be granted.
Where the applicant is already an active participant in a recognized program, the results of its
participation will be taken into account as part of the initial assessment.
Applicants or accredited CAB shall fill the form AC 4.6 PTP follow-up sheet with relevant data
issued from their recent PT participation.
Further to that, the lead assessor/technical assessor shall include a brief description and
evaluation of the laboratorys performance in proficiency testing activities by using the form
AC 7.1 PT review checklist.
Version: 2 Page 2 of 2

Date: 03 November 2015

Approved by: Brahim Houla