Laboratory proficiency testing programmes

Formal accreditation, operation of effective internal quality control proce dures together with participation in laboratory proficiency testing schemes are key elements in ensuring the quality of results generated by analytica l laboratories. A large number of commercial proficiency testing schemes ar e now in operation covering almost all sectors of analytical chemistry. In the UK a proficiency testing scheme for food analysis called FAPAS(R) has b een operating since 1990, and covers a wide range of analytes. This scheme is used to exemplify the principles and approaches to laboratory proficienc y testing.