Published: 3rd April 2020 - All information correct at time of publication.
SYNLAB Laboratory Services, a specialist workplace drug and alcohol testing laboratory, today announced that the company has successfully maintained its United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) accreditation for the 19th consecutive year and transitioned to the new ISO/IEC 17025:2017 standard*.
UKAS is the only national accreditation body which has been recognised by the government to assess, against internationally agreed standards, organisations that provide certification, testing, inspection and calibration services.
In order for the accreditation to be awarded, SYNLAB Laboratory Services underwent an assessment in 2019. This involved a full review of the quality management system, the company’s sample collection services and technical methods.
The assessment was successful and in quarter 1 of 2020 SYNLAB Laboratory Services was officially awarded accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025:2017. Feedback from UKAS assessors was very positive.
Part of ISO/IEC 17025, the company has also successfully maintained its accreditation to the Forensic Regulators Codes of Practice and Conduct and ILAC_G19 which enables the laboratory to continue to conduct testing in relation to section 4 and 5a of the Road Traffic Act (1988) and The Drug Driving (Specified Limits) (England and Wales) Regulations 2014, The Drug Driving (Specified Limits) (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2015 and The Drug Driving (Specified Limits) (Scotland) Regulations 2019.
Samantha Osmond, Head of Toxicology at SYNLAB Laboratory Services commented “We are delighted to have maintained our UKAS 17025 accreditation for a milestone 19th year. This, together with our successful transition to the latest standards and maintenance of our relatively new forensic accreditation, demonstrates our ongoing and full commitment to upholding the highest standards in quality”.
The UKAS ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation is part of an impressive portfolio that SYNLAB Laboratory Services holds. The laboratory is also an accredited medical testing laboratory No. 9301 and an approved supplier under RSSB’s RISQS (Railway Industry Supplier Qualification Scheme).
For more information on SYNLAB Laboratory Services’ testing services or accreditations, interested parties can contact the Customer Services team here.
*SYNLAB Laboratory Services is UKAS accredited testing laboratory No. 2144.