ISO/IEC 17043 Proficiency Testing Providers (PTP)

ISO/IEC 17043 provides the specific requirements for the development, operation and competent operations of Proficiency Testing Providers (PTP).

From March 2024, assessments will be conducted to the requirements of the revised ISO/IEC 17043:2023 Standard.  You can find key resources and information on the Standard revisions as well as documents to help prepare you for your next assessment.

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What is ISO/IEC 17043? ISO/IEC 17043 accreditation Accreditation benefits Accreditation areas FAQs Accreditation documents

What is ISO/IEC 17043?

The ISO/IEC 17043 Standard is applicable for all types of PTPs.

Testing and calibration organisations who rely on proficiency testing to gauge their own performance can have confidence in the competence of NATA accredited PTPs

ISO/IEC 17043 accreditation

Accreditation to ISO/IEC 17043 demonstrates an independently proven competence in the planning, development and execution of proficiency testing providers. 

A PTP accredited to ISO/IEC 17043 highlights its compliance to an international standard, facilitates efficiencies through continuous improvement processes, reduces potential costs to the provider and allows for a competitive edge in the market.

Accreditation benefits

ISO/IEC 17043 accreditation gives PTP’s the ability to conduct and prove competency in production, testing and statistical approaches to handling homogeneity and stability of test samples and artifacts as well as the analysis of participants data.

PTP’s also benefit from a globally recognised Standard that gives them a competitive market edge.

Other ISO/IEC 17043 accreditation benefits include:

  • Competence and credibility
  • Independence and impartiality
  • International recognition with the international accreditation organisations 
  • Benchmarking ongoing performance against relevant standards
  • Giving clients the highest level of assessment and professionalism in the industry
  • The ability to always meet mandatory regulatory requirements
  • The ability to compete in the market

Accreditation areas

NATA has accredited PTPs in the following areas:

  • Agribusiness
  • Animal health
  • Calibration gases
  • Environment
  • Food and beverage
  • Human pathology
  • Forensic science
  • Civil construction
  • Surface friction testing
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FAQs

PT providers operate by providing participating facilities with items based on experimental observation, including measurement, testing, calibration, examination, sampling and inspection. Facilities analyse the items, preferably as part of their normal routine, and report the results to the PT providers.

They are then provided with a report showing how closely their results agree with the accepted values.

Regular participation in a proficiency-testing:

  • Provides staff with an insight into their laboratory’s performance
  • Benchmarks performance with that of other participant facilities
  • Demonstrates to end users of analytical data, regulatory and accreditation bodies that there is a commitment to measurement quality

The NATA Accreditation Criteria (NAC) packages are made up of numerous documents which are available for download.

There are General Accreditation Criteria which apply to all facilities, and Specific Accreditation Criteria tailored for industry sectors and activities.

  1. General NATA Documents
  2. General Accreditation Criteria
  3. Specific Accreditation Criteria

General Accreditation Guidance and Specific Accreditation Guidance documents present information on common technical or operational issues.

  1. General Accreditation Guidance
  2. Specific Accreditation Guidance
  3. General Accreditation Forms

17043 NATA Accreditation Criteria Package

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Benefits of being a NATA accredited organisation

NATA accredits organisations to perform testing and inspection activities for their products and services. This gives consumers the assurance they need to make safe, healthy and reliable choices. When you choose to become NATA accredited, you can be sure of a number of competitive advantages for your business.
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NATA members receive a globally-recognised, peer-reviewed and government endorsed accreditation that provides a unique level of assurance to members, their clients and the community.
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Our accreditation provides an independent benchmark for technical competence. Receiving NATA accreditation demonstrates to customers your organisation’s commitment to quality, safety and reliability of products and services.
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NATA accreditation is both nationally and internationally recognised. This provides a competitive advantage when compared to non-accredited organisations and ensures you are market-ready to capitalise on trade opportunities.
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NATA’s long standing and active involvement with international groups enables our members to gain international recognition for their accreditation and minimises the need for multiple assessments from different suppliers.
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