IPA 2008 Proficiency Testing (PT Schemes)

In the period between 8th November and 12th November 2010 a Post-PT training was delivered as the final training for laboratories and national accreditation bodies within the regional IPA 2008 Proficiency Testing Project. The training took place in Bled, Slovenia.

Post-PT training involved the Western Balkans countries, including Turkey. Training coordinator was the Laboratory of Metrology and Quality, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana.

The following seven PT schemes were realised as part of the project: calibration (temperature) and testing (environmental noise, testing of waste water parameters, air quality, pasteurised milk testing, cement and asphalt testing).

Pilot laboratories that participated in and organised, in cooperation with experts from laboratories in Ljubljana, inter-laboratory comparisons in each of the said fields presented the results of inter-laboratory comparisons, including the analysis of results.
A pilot laboratory from Serbia that participated in inter-laboratory comparison related to physical and chemical parameters of cement was the Material Testing Laboratory (IMS Institute, Belgrade). It presented the results in this inter-laboratory comparison scheme.

Other laboratories that participated on behalf of Serbia in other fields of PT schemes were as follows: Directorate of Measures and Precious Metals, Belgrade (calibration - temperature); AD Zaštita na radu i zaštita životne sredine (Occupational Safety and Environmental Protection), Laboratory for Noise, Vibrations and Pressure Vessels (testing – environmental noise); Republic Hydrometeorological Institute of Serbia, Belgrade (testing – air quality); Jugoinspekt-Beograd AD, Zavod Točider and Laboratory for Quality Testing and Health Safety of Products, Belgrade (testing – pasteurised milk); Faculty of Civil Engineering, Laboratory for Pavement Constructions, Belgrade (testing – asphalt). It was concluded that results obtained by laboratories were satisfactory. Furthermore, selected laboratories that participated in the project presented their business plans as part of the training programme.

Furthermore, national accreditation bodies from the region took part in this project, since requirements they set for their accredited CABs implied mandatory participation in relevant PT schemes and inter-laboratory comparisons. PT scheme results are important since they indicate that quality of testing/calibration results performed by accredited CABs can be trusted. National accreditation bodies had an opportunity to present during training current situation in their countries relating to these fields of accreditation system.

Ljiljana Markićević, Head of the Laboratory Department, and Dušanka Santovac, Senior Adviser for Accreditation Affairs, attended the final Bled training on behalf of the Accreditation Board of Serbia.