Accreditation scope, not just accreditation
A laboratory holding ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation is accredited for specific methods and matrices. Confirm the relevant parameter and matrix are inside its scope; accreditation for one does not imply competence in another.
Risk-based frequency beats uniform testing
Test every lot from new suppliers and for high-risk parameters, then reduce frequency as statistical history accumulates, while retaining periodic verification and full testing after any process, origin or route change.
What to verify
- —ISO/IEC 17025 scope covering the parameter and matrix
- —Proficiency-testing participation and results
- —Turnaround time compatible with the claim window
- —Chain of custody from sampling to laboratory receipt
Typical risks
- —A result that cannot be defended because the method was outside scope
- —Results arriving after the contractual claim deadline
Common mistakes
- —Choosing a laboratory on price and turnaround alone
- —Testing a sample with no documented chain of custody
Frequently asked questions
How much testing is enough?
Enough to control the risks that matter for your species and market: safety parameters every lot for high-risk materials, nutrient parameters on a statistical plan, and full verification whenever origin or process changes.
Related topics
Sampling is the largest source of error in feed-ingredient testing; a valid result requires many small increments combined into a representative composite, taken to a written plan.
Every analytical result carries measurement uncertainty; contractual tolerances define how much variation is accepted before a price adjustment, rejection or claim is triggered.
A supplier's quality system — certification scheme, HACCP plan, monitoring programme, complaint handling and recall capability — predicts consistency better than any single certificate of analysis.
Build a structured RFQ with the parameters, tolerances and verification steps written in — free for buyers.
Start your RFQTechnical parameter names and analytical method references are kept in English because they are quoted verbatim in contracts, certificates and international standards.
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