ALS Environmental is a UKAS ISO EN 17025:2005, MCERTS and Drinking Water Testing Specification (DWTS) accredited laboratory. To fulfil and maintain our accreditation status for each of these bodies we must comply to the changes in best practice guidance and regulation as driven by UKAS.

To make searching for accreditation easier for laboratory users UKAS have issued several pieces of literature and guidance on accreditation and sample matrices:

• UKAS Accreditation Awareness Campaign
   
• Guidance On Water Matrices Definitions for Sampling and Testing to ISO / IEC 17025:2005

The introduction of Sample Matrix Accreditation will ensure that the UKAS, MCERTS and DWTS accreditation on an ALS Environmental analytical test report will directly represent the UKAS accreditation schedule.

To help with the change we have produced some frequently asked questions to guide our customers through the change.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

• What happens if I do not supply a sample matrix type?

If we do not receive a matrix type with your sample then we will not be able to place any UKAS, MCERTS or DWTS accreditation against your analytical results.

• What sample matrix types can I choose from?

The sample matrix types that ALS Environmental hold accreditation for are listed below:

• What happens if I supply a matrix type not recognised by ALS Environmental?

If you use a water matrix that is not listed on the UKAS "Guidance On Water Matrices Definitions for Sampling and Testing to ISO / IEC 17025:2005" then your data will be unaccredited.

• Can I supply a matrix type after submitting a sample?

Yes - simply contact your Customer Service Co-ordinator or call us on 02476 42 12 13 with details of your job number and matrix type and we will re-issue your order acknowledgement to highlight the changed accreditation status.

• Will this change affect any historic reports or accreditation?

No. All data processed under the old accreditation system will remain unchanged unless you are advised otherwise.

• What if I do not know my matrix type?

Our team of Customer Service Co-ordinators are able to assist customers with defining their matrix. ALS Environmental have produced a handy A4 sheet for Water Matrices and our team have been trained in understanding the variance between the Water Matrix types. For Soil descriptors we can assist by referring to the MCERTS guidance.

• Can I have more than one matrices for my sample?

No. It is not possible to have more than one sample matrix type.

• Can I have more than one sample matrix in a batch or of samples (job)?

Yes. Each sample can have its own matrix type or we can apply the same matrix to each sample.

• When is the latest I can supply you with a sample matrix?

Ideally we would receive the sample matrix information on the day we receive the sample. We are able to add the sample matrix detail at any stage in the analytical process or after the report, however, this will result in a new version of your report to be created and this may result in a slight delay.

• When will the matrix accreditation come into effect?

The sample matrix accreditation set as live on Monday 5^th January. This means that any sample received after this date will be accredited at a matrix level.

• How do I know if my engineers are not supplying you with matrix types?

Our Customer Service Co-ordinators have been routinely contacting customers who have failed to provide a valid sample matrix type in the past six months. We will flag up the lack of matrix on your Order Acknowledgement and a member of the team will contact you to advise that without a matrix type your report would not be either UKAS 17025:2005, MCERTS or DWTS accredited.

• Where can I find a copy of the ALS Environmental UKAS accreditation schedule?

The UKAS 17025:2005, MCERTS and DWTS accreditation schedule can all be found on the UKAS website (www.ukas.org):

• Chester
• Coventry
• Wakefield

A link to each of our laboratories schedules can be found by clicking the links above.

• I used to supply you with a matrix type that you no longer list?

By following the UKAS Guidance from 2014 on Water Matrix types we have removed some matrix types (Cooling Tower, Clean Water, Potable Water, River Water, Contaminated Land Water). These can be replaced with the new Water Matrix types.