← Knowledge centre
Laboratory standards
What is ISO/IEC 17025 and how do you choose a laboratory?
About 7 minutesLast reviewed: 2026-08-31
ISO/IEC 17025 addresses laboratory competence, but accreditation does not mean every service and range is included in the accredited scope.
What the standard covers
It addresses impartiality, people, facilities, equipment, traceability, methods, uncertainty evaluation, quality control and reporting.
- Management and technical competence
- Control of data and records
- Complaints and nonconforming work
Verify the scope before ordering
Check instrument, parameter, range, CMC, method and service location in the current scope. Do not rely on the accreditation logo alone.
- Request the accreditation number and scope
- Compare the working range with listed coverage
- Confirm how accredited status will appear on the certificate
FAQ
Is every service from an ISO/IEC 17025 laboratory accredited?
No. The scope identifies the accredited items, ranges, methods and locations and must be checked for each job.
What is CMC?
Calibration and Measurement Capability is stated in the accredited scope under defined conditions. It is not automatically the uncertainty for every customer result.