Quality · 5 min read
ISO/IEC 17025 Accreditation, Explained for Peptide Buyers
What ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation means, what it does and does not guarantee, and how to verify that a testing laboratory is accredited.
ISO/IEC 17025 is the international standard that sets out the general requirements for the competence, impartiality, and consistent operation of testing and calibration laboratories. When a peptide certificate names an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratory, it means an independent accreditation body has assessed that lab against the standard.
What accreditation covers
- A documented quality management system
- Validated test methods and measurement uncertainty
- Calibrated, maintained instruments
- Trained and assessed personnel
- Impartiality safeguards between the lab and its clients
- Regular external audits and proficiency testing
What it does not cover
Accreditation applies to a defined scope of tests. A lab may be accredited for HPLC purity but not for endotoxin testing, for example. It also says nothing about the product itself. It speaks to the reliability of the measurement, not the quality of the material.
How to verify a lab
Accreditation bodies such as A2LA, ANAB, and PJLA publish searchable directories. Search the laboratory name, confirm that the certificate is current, and open the scope document to check that the specific method on your COA is listed.
Why it matters for research reagents
Research results are only as reliable as the materials behind them. A purity figure from an accredited lab, produced with a validated method, is a figure you can report in a methods section with confidence.
North Wall uses ISO/IEC 17025 accredited third-party laboratories for lot release. Read more about our testing panel.
Educational content for laboratory professionals. North Wall products are for in-vitro research only and are not for human or veterinary use.