SGS has announced that its Laboratory Quality Services International (LQSi) group has successfully conformed to the ISO/IEC 17043:2010 quality standard which overviews the requirements for laboratory proficiency testing programs. The audit and ongoing accreditation requirements are administered by the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA). According to SGS, very few wide-spectrum minerals-based laboratory proficiency testing providers have achieved this feat. The assessment covers the preparation, verification and distribution of test items characteristic of the minerals sector such as precious and base metal ores and concentrates, coal, coke, and fertiliser. The statement said: “the effective and efficient processes developed, implemented and documented by LQSi during their drive for accreditation to ISO/IEC 17043 show the team’s commitment to the field of proficiency testing, an important component of the ISO/IEC 17025 laboratory testing standard. Obtaining this accreditation signals SGS’ dedication to continual improvement and the highest quality standards.”