Buyer documentation guide
ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation: how to check a testing lab's scope
Published 2026-10-28 · updated 2026-10-28 · vendor-authored explanatory note
Short answer
ISO/IEC 17025:2017 is the international standard for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories. Accreditation to it is granted by an accreditation body (in the US, for example A2LA, ANAB, PJLA, or IAS) and covers only the specific tests listed on the lab's scope of accreditation. To rely on it, look up the lab's certificate in the accreditation body's public directory and confirm that the exact method on your report, such as HPLC purity of peptides, appears on the current scope.
| Term | What it means | What it does not mean |
|---|---|---|
| ISO/IEC 17025 accredited | An accreditation body assessed the lab's competence for the tests on its scope | That every test the lab offers is accredited |
| Scope of accreditation | The official list of accredited tests, methods, materials, and ranges | A marketing summary; it is a numbered document on the accreditor's site |
| ISO 17025 compliant or aligned | The lab says it follows the standard | Independent assessment; nobody has checked |
| ISO 9001 certified | A quality-management system was certified | Technical competence to run a specific test |
Why the scope matters more than the logo
Accreditation is not a blanket badge. A laboratory can be accredited for heavy-metal testing in one material and not for peptide purity by HPLC. The scope of accreditation lists exactly which tests, methods, and sample types were assessed. A result is accredited only when that test is on the scope at the time of testing.
Under ILAC rules, accredited reports can carry the accreditation body's symbol, and labs are expected to identify results that fall outside their scope. A report with a logo but a test that is not on the scope is not an accredited result.
Five steps to check a lab yourself
This takes about five minutes with the report in front of you.
- Find the accreditation body and certificate number on the report or the lab's website.
- Confirm the accreditation body is a signatory to the ILAC Mutual Recognition Arrangement, using ILAC's public signatory list.
- Look up the certificate in that body's public directory (A2LA, ANAB, PJLA, and IAS all publish one) and check it is current, not suspended or expired.
- Open the scope document and find the method on your report, for example peptide purity by HPLC-UV or identity by LC-MS.
- Check the report date falls inside the accreditation period and that the lab name and address on the report match the certificate.
What accreditation does and does not tell you
Accreditation means the lab's quality system and technical competence for the listed tests were assessed and are periodically reassessed, including method validation, measurement uncertainty, and proficiency testing. It does not guarantee that any single result is correct, and it says nothing about whether the sample sent to the lab represents the lot you received. Lot matching, covered in our COA checklist, is still your first check.
How Vitality Chems handles lab credentials
Our published reports come from named third-party laboratories, and each report on the testing page shows the lab, date, lot, method, and results as printed. We do not state an accreditation status for a lab unless we can link to its current scope, and we would rather you check it yourself with the steps above. If you want help locating a lab's accreditation record for a specific report, ask through the testing page.
Related on Vitality Chems
- Peptide COA checklist — lot match comes before lab credentials.
- HPLC vs LC-MS — the two methods most peptide scopes list.
- Testing and COA requests — labs, dates, and methods on every published report.
- Verify a lot — open the published report for your vial.
Frequently asked
What is ISO/IEC 17025?
ISO/IEC 17025:2017 is the international standard setting general requirements for the competence, impartiality, and consistent operation of testing and calibration laboratories.
Is an ISO 17025 accredited lab accredited for every test?
No. Accreditation covers only the tests listed on the lab's scope of accreditation. Always confirm the method on your report appears on the current scope.
How do I verify a lab's ISO 17025 accreditation?
Get the accreditation body and certificate number, confirm the body is an ILAC MRA signatory, and look up the certificate and scope in that body's public directory.
Is ISO 9001 the same as ISO 17025?
No. ISO 9001 certifies a quality-management system. ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation assesses technical competence to perform specific tests.
References
- ISO/IEC 17025:2017, General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratoriesThe standard itself.
- ILAC MRA and signatoriesPublic list of accreditation bodies recognized under the ILAC Mutual Recognition Arrangement.
- A2LA, American Association for Laboratory AccreditationA US accreditation body with a public directory of accredited labs and scopes.
- ANAB, ANSI National Accreditation BoardA US accreditation body with a public directory of accredited labs and scopes.
