Accreditation of sampling activities

Since the introduction of ISO/IEC 17025 it is a requirement for all accredited laboratories to include sampling in their quality statements. It is well understood that sampling and handling of the sample are key factors in the validity of a result. The fact that many laboratories worldwide are not involved in sampling poses a challenge to accreditors liability. This article describes the Israel Laboratory Accreditation Authoritys (ISRAC) and other accreditors approaches to sampling.Presented at the Second International Conference on Metrology—Trends and Applications in Calibration and Testing Laboratories, 4–6 November 2003, Eilat, Israel.