The NAB-MALTA considers the participation of testing and/or calibration laboratories as an important mechanism for monitoring the integrity of test and calibration results. It is a policy of the NAB-MALTA that all accredited laboratories participate in such schemes, where these are available and relevant to the scope of accreditation. The NAB-MALTA policy on Proficiency Testing and Interlaboratory comparisons is set in document ATG10.
Proficiency Testing schemes for sampling play a vital role in the improvement of sampling procedures and in the development of participants from an educational point of view, especially if workshops with the participants are organised.
Furthermore, PT schemes for sampling can also give a greater appreciation of the contribution of the sampling in relation to the overall quality of the measurement, including the associated contribution to the measurement uncertainty.
A leaflet issued by EUARCHEM, Proficiency Testing Schemes for Sampling, gives some hints on the application of ISO/IEC 17043 for PT providers organising PT schemes for sampling.