BIPEA International Proficiency Testing Schemes

Created in 1970, Bipea is an European nonprofit organization that provides proficiency testing programs and reference materials for laboratories concerned by control and quality. Present in over 120 countries, our services cover different fields: cereals, grains, feed, food, beverages, air, waters, soils, cosmetics. BIPEA is ISO 9001 certified by the Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance and ISO/IEC 17043 accredited by COFRAC for the organization of proficiency testing programs. We gather near 2000 testing laboratories in the world. Why should laboratories take part in proficiency testing programs? Our proficiency testing programs allow laboratories to evaluate their performance and their accuracy on analysis. The services we propose meet the requirements of the laboratories Quality Standards. Many laboratories use it in order to be accredited and certified by official bodies or to maintain their recognition. Our interlaboratory comparisons are more than basic tests. They permit laboratories to confirm and demonstrate their technical skills. Our tests could lead a laboratory to determine the reasons of its weak testing performance. Thus we help laboratories identifying the source of the analytical error, taking correctives actions and improving their analytical performance . Those tests can also be used as a tool of improvement and training in order to control the technical skills of a staff or to educate it. Bipea Proficiency Tests are a key factor of the laboratory Quality System by providing confidence to both staff and stakeholders: laboratory staff will enjoy having satisfactory test results and stakeholders will enjoy working with a fully accurate laboratory.