The updated version of the ISO/IEC 17043:2023 was published

The International Organization for Standardization officially published the updated version of the international standard ISO/IEC 17043:2023 which determines the requirements for proficiency testing for laboratories. The standard sets the general requirements for the competence and equity of PT Providers.

It’s important to note that even the name of the standard was significantly changed. The previous version of the standard, ISO/IEC 17043:2010 Conformity assessment — General requirements for proficiency testing, used to determine requirements for proficiency testing as a whole. The updated version of the standard, ISO/IEC 17043:2023 Conformity assessment — General requirements for the competence of proficiency testing providers contains requirements for evaluation of the competence of PT Providers.

The risk-oriented approach which allows PT Providers to make use of the experience gained as a result of conducting the previous rounds of PT Programs, is an example of another major change in the new version of the standard.

According to the ILAC General Assembly Resolution, since the date of the new standard implementation, a three-year transition period begins. During this period the certified bodies must be accredited in accordance with the updated version of the standard. A brief overview of the novelties of the updated standard is available in the official ISO presentation