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ISO 17025

What is ISO 17025 - The Global Gold Standard​

A UKAS approved accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025 is the global gold standard for companies and laboratories involved in testing and calibration activities.

The standard was developed by two international standard organisations; ISO, the International Organization for Standardization and the IEC the International Electrotechnical Commission.   These organisations work, as might be expected, at the international level and accreditation is given by the national accreditation body, in the UK’s case, this is UKAS, the United Kingdom Accreditation Service.

What does ISO 17025 standard specify?

The standard specifies the general requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories which depends on a number of factors including:

The qualifications, training and experience of staff

The right equipment, properly calibrated and maintained

Adequate quality management practices and procedures

Robust sampling
practices

Appropriate & repeatable testing methods & procedures

Traceability of measurements to national standards

Accurate recording and reporting procedures

Suitable testing
facilities

How does ISO 17025 benefit my organisation?


Consequently, ISO 17025 accreditation provides numerous benefits to the registered organisation, for instance it:

  • Helps optimise their processes and practices
  • Ensures quality of the services delivered
  • Ensures the competence of staff
  • Ensures compliance with regulatory requirements
  • Enhances customer satisfaction
  • Reduces unnecessary costs
  • Provides a platform for continuous improvement


In conclusion, in many sectors, for many clients, accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025 is essential for companies, test houses and laboratories wanting to independently demonstrate the quality of the services they provide.