ALS Environmental are pleased to announce that from Monday 5^th January 2015 we will be updating the way that we report our accreditation based on sample matrices. The changes that we are making are to align with the UKAS guidance on the standard nomlenclature for Water Matrix types issued in June 2014 titled "Guidance On Water Matrices Definitions for Sampling and Testing to ISO / IEC 17025:2005".
 

As part of this update ALS Environmental will no longer make reference to the matrix types listed as "old matrix" in Table 1, we have however provided a useful conversion tool:

TABLE 1: Updated Water Matrices

The update to Sample Matrix Accreditation reporting has been an exciting project within ALS Environmental and we have taken every step along the way to inform our customers of the upcoming changes to our reporting and accreditation systems. To raise awareness in this project we have had a consistent communication plan as outlined in Table 2.

Additionally, ALS Environmental have included a Sample Matrix update in most customer update communications since May 2014. Our aim has been to provide a clear communication channel to customers and the market about the potential impact of matrix level accreditation. By encouraging customers to provide the matrix details that we will require from Monday 5^th January, which will allow our customers to continue to claim our extensive range of UKAS ISO/EN 17025:2005 accreditation, we hope to make this transition as smooth and simple as possible.

Table 2: Communication of Matrix Accreditation

Christopher Caird, Quality Director at ALS Environmental, comments about the upcoming changes and the potential challenges that lie ahead:

ALS Environmental always strives to lead the market in terms of accreditation. We were one of the first laboratories in the UK to commit to the UKAS "Guidance on Deviating Samples" approach and our commitment to delivering on Sample Matrix Accreditation is second to none.
Our Customer Services team are fully aware of the upcoming changes to accreditation and will be contacting customers in due course to advise of any changes to behaviours that they may need to make in order to retain accreditation for their analysis.

For a full list of all Water matrices and a brief description of what constitutes this matrix type please see Table 3:

Table 3: Updated Water Matrices

Click here to download the ALS Environmental Water Sample Matrix Datasheet

If you have any questions or concerns regarding sample matrix accreditation please contact us or call 02476 42 12 13 and a member of our Customer Service team will be happy to handle your concerns or questions.

Once again we would like to take this opportunity to wish all of our customers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.