IAS Newsletter | Fall 2020Forensic Laboratoriesand InspectionAgencies AccreditationForensic Testing and Calibration Laboratory AccreditationIAS accreditation confirms that the Testing or Calibration Labcomplies with the ISO/IEC Standard 17025.IAS accredited forensic testing or calibration laboratoriesdemonstrate to the marketplace and to regulators that accreditation requirements are met and are periodically monitored forcompliance. The accreditation process involves an assessmentof the forensic laboratories technical competence for performingsampling, testing and/or calibration services. Forensic analysisservice providers will have a standardized, efficient system devoted to quality of testing performance with increased accountability.2020 Forensic Lab Accreditation PolicyThe United States Department of Justice mandated department-run forensic labs to obtain and maintain accreditation andall department prosecutors to use accredited labs to processforensic evidence when practicable as of December 2020.Accreditation assesses a forensic lab’s capacity to generate andinterpret results in a particular forensic discipline and helps toensure an ongoing compliance to industry and applicable international standards.IAS will assess and monitor the quality of the lab’s managementsystem by examining factors that include staff competence;method validation; appropriateness of test methods; calibrationand maintenance of test equipment; testing environment andquality assurance data.Forensic Inspection Agency AccreditationIAS accreditation confirms that the Inspection Agency complieswith the ISO/IEC Standard 17020.IAS assesses forensic inspection agencies’ competence forperforming inspections and the consistency of their inspectionactivities. IAS accredits agencies that perform inspections ofmaterials, products, installations or processes.ILAC and IAFRecognitionsIAS participation in ILAC and IAF technical meetings is of strategic importance and value because IAS operatesa diverse range of accreditation programs (testing, calibration, inspection,management systems, product, persons) within the established ILAC andIAF Multilateral and Mutual Recognition Arrangements (commonly known as MRAs/MLAs). IAS was recently recognizedunder the IAF Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MRA)for the scopes of ISO 45001 (OH&SMS) and IPC-PL-11-006on March and May 2020 respectively (shown in italics below).These new recognitions add to the already approved scopes ofIAS under the IAF MLA (full recognition below).A valuable consequence of this scope extension expands IAS’reach and stature as a full-service accreditation body servingthe interests of its constituents worldwide. The recognitionsreceived under IAF and ILAC allows international acceptanceof IAS accreditations based on the equivalence of other accreditation body’s accreditation programs through the establishment of regional MLAs/MRAs. Hence, providing world-widerecognition and acceptance of IAS test reports, certificatesand those certificates issued by our accredited conformityassessment bodies. The certified clients of accredited conformity assessment bodies help facilitate trade and commerceamongst economies within regional groups which in turn serveglobal markets.The full approved IAF and ILAC MLA/MRA scope as of May2020 is shown below:GORD Labs Expandstheir Scope of Accredited Testing to help Fightthe Spread of COVID-19Gord Labs, an IAS accredited testing laboratory inDoha Qatar reached outto our technical staff onMay 1, 2020 to expandtheir scope of accreditedtesting to include handsanitizer. The assessmentwas completed May 9,and their updated certificate issued May 10th. Founding Chairman Dr. Yousef Alhorrhad this to say about the experience:“Dear IAS Management Team,On behalf of the EcoLab-GORD team I would like to extend ourappreciation and words of thanks to yourselves and your stafffor the excellent support and extraordinary efforts dedicated byIAS to facilitate the expansion of the testing scopes of our laboratory ISO/IEC certification in a very short time and at a verychallenging situation given the immense pressures caused bythe widespread of the pandemic COVID-19.We truly appreciate the business relations with your organization and look forward to a continued collaboration for thebenefits of both parties.”Details of the expanded scope are shown in the charts below:Main scopes Product Certification - ISO/IEC 17065 - 26 May 2011 Certification of Persons - ISO/IEC 17024 - 26 Oct 2018Sub scopesQualitative &Quantitative analysisof alcohols content inAlcohol-Based HandSanitizers obtainedaccording to WHOIsopropanolguidelinesEthanol Management Systems Certification - ISO/IEC 17021-1HandSanitizerLevel 4Forensic Analysis CategoriesProduct: GlobalG.A.P. IFA General Regulations - 20 Mar 2019IAS provides accreditation to the following forensic analysisrelated categories: MS: ISO/TS 22003 MS: ISO/IEC 27006 MS: ISO/IEC 17021-3 MS: ISO 50003Chemical Law enforcement agencies and crime laboratories MS: ISO/IEC 17021-2 MS: ISO/IEC TS 17021-10SOP/OPN/14 based on ASTME 168 and Perkin Elmerapplication note using FTIR Medical examiner offices and public health agencies Environmental testing laboratories and breath alcohol calibration laboratoriesLevel 51 % to 100%1 % to 100%Quantification of Ethanol andIsopropanol in Alcohol-Basedhand sanitizersProduct: GlobalG.A.P. IFA CPCCs Animal drug testing laboratories MS: ISO 22000 (FSMS) MS: ISO 50001 (EnMS) Computer/IT forensic investigation organizations MS: ISO 9001 (QMS) MS: ISO 45001 (OH&SMS) Academic institutions MS: ISO 14001 (EMS) Persons: IPC-PL-11-006 MS: ISO/IEC 27001 (ISMS) MS: ISO 13485 (MDMS)2IAS Fall 2020 Newsletterwww.iasonline.org3
It seems that your browser's pop-up blocker has prevented us from opening a new window/tab. Please click the button below to open the link manually.
