ABOUT THE PROJECT

This long-term technical assistance laboratory project was launched successfully in December 2005, as one of the projects of the overall project “Support to the Quality Infrastructure in Turkey”, which is managed by the Expertise Centre. The project duration is 19 months and will be completed in June 2007.

This Project amounting to 0.5 Mio EUR is funded by the European Commission. The project is administered by a consortium of companies lead by EHG - Euro Health Group, with partners DANAK - The Danish Accreditation and Metrology Fund, QM - Quality Management, and FORCE Technology.

Proficiency testing (PT) and inter laboratory comparisons (ILC) are tools to perform external quality control of laboratory services. The quality of laboratory services is checked and compared by requesting laboratories to test the same sample or similar samples. PTs and ILCs typically comply with international guidelines such as ISO Guide 43 and ILAC-G13.

The key objectives and results of this project are to assist Turkish laboratories and stakeholders, especially the Turkish accreditation body, TÜRKAK, in the use of proficiency tests and inter laboratory comparisons in order to strengthen the laboratories’ provision of known, reliable and internationally recognised laboratory services. The project will therefore work in close collaboration with TÜRKAK.

PTs and ILCs are required for accreditation of laboratories in accordance with international standards such as ISO 17025. PTs and ILCs are therefore of extreme importance for foreign trade, i.e. free movement of goods with recognition of the quality of Turkish laboratory services. PTs and ILCs are also of high importance for the general quality of Turkish laboratory services, e.g. for medical laboratory services, for environmental testing and other laboratory services, which help ensure the Turkish standard of living.

The expected results are:
• Testing and analytical laboratories accredited by TÜRKAK will have been provided with proficiency testing programmes
• Calibration laboratories accredited by TÜRKAK will have been provided with inter laboratory comparison schemes
• TÜRKAK will have gained experience in evaluation the results of proficiency testing programs and of inter laboratory comparison schemes.
• TÜRKAK will be equipped with a nationally organised reliable assessment tool on proficiency testing programs and of inter laboratory comparison for accreditation process.
• Potentially accredited laboratories in Turkey will be informed about the value of such practices
• An information network related to providers will have been developed.

The project will follow 4-step approach to achieve these issues. Each phase will be rounded off with a report, a working group meeting for selected stakeholder representatives and with a workshop for a larger group of stakeholders. The idea of this structure is to achieve a participatory process, where all stakeholders are involved, and to facilitate a clear overview of progress and milestones achieved for the Project Board, the EC Delegation, the Expertise Centre, laboratories, TÜRKAK and other stakeholders.

The 1st phase, the inception phase, includes development of detailed assignment approach, and initial survey of available information. This phase will take up to 2 months.

The 2nd phase: Data collection /Ways forward, includes identification of technical fields, where PT and ILC reference laboratories and potential providers of PT and ILC. This phase will take about 3 months and will consist of detailed assessments of the possible entities to be involved in provision of PT and ILC programs.

The 3rd phase for implementation of proficiency testing and inter laboratory comparison skills with training will run over 11 months.

The project will be rounded off in the 4th phase for supporting long-term availability and application of PTs and ILCs. This will be conducted over the last 3 months of the project lifetime.

Major features of the project are:
• Establishing and maintaining a strong collaboration between this project and TÜRKAK
• Strengthening the Turkish infrastructure access to PTs and ILCs
• Training and assistance in conducting PTs and ILCs
• Using PTs and ILCs
• Establishing visibility and an information network for PTs and ILCs
• Implementation of PTs and ILCs in accordance with international standards: ISO Guide 43 and especially the EA (European Co-operation for Accreditation) Guideline ILAC-G13

last updated: 25.01.2006
burcak.oztekin@expert-centre.org