FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 2002-01-25

First Standards Council of Canada Accreditation of a Proficiency Testing Provider

OTTAWA - The first Standards Council of Canada accreditation of a Canadian Proficiency Testing Provider has been granted to the Proficiency Testing Program for Mineral Analysis Laboratories of Natural Resources Canada (PTP-MAL).

Proficiency testing is the use of inter-laboratory comparisons to determine the performance of individual laboratories for specific tests or measurements. The Proficiency Testing Program for Mineral Analysis Laboratories' (PTP-MAL) accreditation as a Proficiency Testing Provider satisfies the requirements of ISO/IEC Guide 43, an internationally accepted guide, which provides the framework for the development and operation of proficiency testing provider programs.

The program is offered through the Standards Council's Program for the Accreditation of Laboratories - Canada. (PALCAN). Accreditation provides national and international recognition of the proficiency test provider's competence to manage and perform this type of proficiency testing, as well as adhere to recognized standards, guides and practices.

"Proficiency Testing Providers accredited by the Standards Council provide greater confidence in the use of proficiency testing results within the laboratory community" stated Don Wilson, Director of Conformity Assessment for the Standards Council of Canada.

"As a provider of a proficiency testing program, we are committed to quality. Accreditation offers PTP-MAL the opportunity to make a strong commitment to quality by directly addressing technical competence" said Dr. Henry Steger, Manager, Proficiency Testing Program for Mineral Analysis Laboratories.

The PTP-MAL assesses the performance of laboratories that are accredited for mineral analysis activities. Specifically the program assesses laboratory performance for the analysis for gold, silver, copper, zinc, lead, nickel, cobalt, platinum and palladium with samples being received from laboratories in 14 countries.

The Standards Council operates several voluntary accreditation programs. The PALCAN Program has accredited over 300 laboratories in a variety of general testing and specialty areas. The Standards Council is the official accreditation body for proficiency test providers in Canada.

For more information on the programs and services of the Standards Council of Canada and the National Standards System, visit www.scc.ca.

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