ISO 17025:2017 is an International Quality Standard for Testing and Calibration Laboratories. The most popular standard for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories has just been updated, taking into account the latest changes in laboratory environment and work practices.

It has been developed so that testing & calibration laboratories were recognized for their capabilities & areas of competence. It ensures that all measurements and decisions are based on accurate, repeatable, verifiable, cost effective, timely, and believable measurements, opinions, and recommendations.

ISO 17025 helps assures this happens first time, every time, and on-time.ISO/IEC 17025:2017 is applicable to all laboratories regardless of the number of personnel or the extent of the scope of testing and/or calibration activities. It is applicable to all organizations performing tests and/or calibrations.

ISO/IEC 17025:2017 is for use by laboratories in developing their management system for quality, administrative and technical operations. Laboratory customers, regulatory authorities and accreditation bodies can also use it in confirming or recognizing the competence of laboratories.

Laboratories use ISO/IEC 17025 to implement a quality system aimed at improving their ability to consistently produce valid results. It is also the basis for accreditation from an Accreditation Body.

ISO/IEC 17025 also helps facilitate cooperation between laboratories and other bodies by generating wider acceptance of results between countries. Test reports and certificates can be accepted from one country to another without the need for further testing, which, in turn, improves international trade.

In order to reflect the latest changes in market conditions and technology, the new edition of the standard encompasses the activities and new ways of working of laboratories today. It covers technical changes, vocabulary and developments in IT techniques and takes into consideration the latest version of ISO 9001 on quality management.

Laboratories already accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2005 will need to transition their processes to the new version within a three-year period from the publication date of the new standard.