Changes of water laboratories with TS EN ISO/IEC 17025 standard revision

Abstract

Access to clean water have great importance for a healthy life. It should not directly or indirectly pose any physical, chemical, microbiological or even radioactive risks in terms of human health and should not cause various diseases/poisonings. Water safety is ensured and kept under control with the results of chemical and microbiological analysis of the samples, which were sampling. With the reliability of these analysis results, access of safe water is provided. Accreditation have great importance in ensuring reliable results in chemical and microbiological analysis services. In our country, accreditation procedures of the water laboratories are carried out with the TS EN ISO/IEC 17025 standard. TS EN ISO/IEC 17025 standard which was renewed on 18.12.2017. With the renewal of the TS EN ISO/IEC 17025 standard, changes in the practices of the services of accredited water laboratories have occurred. In this study, with the renewed TS EN ISO/IEC 17025: 2017 standard, it is aimed to define the requirements of the water laboratories accredited and/or will be accredited, to determine the practices for their activities and to reveal the changes. The basic change with TS EN ISO/IEC 17025: 2017 standard was the clause configuration. In the TS EN ISO/ IEC 17025: 2017, one of the most important basic changes is the introduction of risk-based thinking in water laboratories. With this renewed standard, emphasis is placed on impartiality while conducting laboratory activities, and confidentiality. Under this standard, definition of laboratory was comprised of testing, calibration and sampling associated with subsequent testing or calibration. Only an organization, that performs sampling activities can be accredited within the scope of TS EN ISO/IEC 17025: 2017 with this activity. Where a declaration of conformity to requirement, specification or standard is specified in the reports of chemical and microbiological quantitative analysis results; the establishment of the decision rule, which is an indicator of the application of measurement uncertainties of laboratories, has been described. With TS EN ISO/IEC 17025: 2017 revision standard; expressions such as focusing on information technologies, usage of computer systems, production of electronic results, electronic records and reports, and the validity of the software are more frequent, but it has also importance to ensure its security. In addition, by clarifying the terminology with this standard, terms such as verification, validation and metrological traceability have been clarified. © 2020. Turk Hij Den Biyol Derg. All rights reserved.