A laboratory without ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation loses contracts before it even has a chance to submit a bid

The laboratory services market is changing faster than most laboratories realise. Just a few years ago, ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation was a distinguishing feature – proof of exceptional quality that opened doors to the most demanding clients. Today, it is becoming a prerequisite for entry. Institutional, corporate and public sector clients are increasingly filtering out laboratories at the tender stage – before anyone even sees the price.

Where ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation is no longer optional

The requirement for accreditation is becoming increasingly widespread and is appearing in an ever-greater variety of contexts – and no longer applies solely to environmental or pharmaceutical laboratories.

Public procurement. Tenders for testing services commissioned by administrative bodies, inspection authorities and public institutions increasingly include accreditation as a formal criterion. A laboratory without PCA accreditation is not permitted to participate in the tender process – regardless of the quality of its equipment, the competence of its staff or the attractiveness of its price offer.

Official food and environmental inspections. The Sanitary Inspection, Veterinary Inspection, Environmental Protection Inspection and other regulatory bodies require that tests carried out for the purposes of official inspections be performed by accredited laboratories. This is not a preference – it is a legal requirement arising from EU and national regulations.

Corporate clients in the supply chain. Food manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, and chemical and cosmetics firms that outsource testing to external laboratories must ensure that their results are reliable and acceptable to regulatory bodies and retail chains. The PCA accreditation certificate serves as proof to them that the laboratory meets the requirements recognised by their auditors.

Export and foreign markets. Poland is a signatory to the multilateral EA and ILAC agreements – which means that the test results of PCA-accredited laboratories are recognised in over 100 countries without the need for retesting. For a manufacturer exporting products to Germany, France or the Asian market, this represents a tangible benefit: a single test in an accredited laboratory instead of repeated testing across different markets.

What accreditation means in practice for a laboratory

ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation is not just a certificate to show clients. It represents a change in the way a laboratory operates – and this change brings benefits that are evident in day-to-day work.

Accredited laboratories operate according to documented and validated methods, with calibrated equipment and documented staff competence. This means fewer errors, fewer results requiring repetition, and fewer disputes with clients over the reliability of tests. Fewer complaints – this translates into real savings, both financial and reputational.

Accreditation also requires regular internal and external audits, which systematically identify areas for improvement. Laboratories that have subjected themselves to this discipline over the years build up expertise that cannot be acquired in any other way. The PCA auditor, who verifies the system, identifies weak points before they become a problem in a client’s order.

Finally, accreditation builds the laboratory’s brand. Among institutional and corporate clients, PCA accreditation signals that the laboratory is a top-tier player. It is a signal that attracts clients who are not looking for the cheapest laboratory, but the most reliable one.

The right time to start – and what the outcome will be

ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation is a project which, with the right support, can be carried out efficiently and without unnecessary complications. Laboratories that have already implemented other management systems – ISO 9001, GMP systems or industry-specific requirements – have a solid foundation on which an ISO/IEC 17025-compliant system can be built more quickly and cost-effectively.

A laboratory that decides to pursue accreditation now gains an advantage that cannot be bought at the last minute: credibility confirmed by an independent third party, access to clients and tenders requiring accreditation, and a brand that works for the laboratory even when no one is actively promoting it. An entry in the PCA register is visible to anyone looking for an accredited laboratory – and works for the laboratory around the clock.

→ ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation is an investment that opens doors that cannot be opened without it. The sooner the decision is made, the sooner the laboratory will begin to benefit from it.