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INSTAND, Ref4U, RfB and WEQAS sign Memorandum of Understanding to join EURAMET’s metrology network

Laboratory test results play an important role in diagnosing medical conditions and in making treatment decisions. Uniform and comparable results can be achieved by making measurements that are traceable to the International System of Units (SI), which represents the highest order of a common measurement base.

At EURAMET, the European Metrology Network for Traceability in Laboratory Medicine (EMN TraceLabMed) has established a coordinated metrology infrastructure for just this purpose; to achieve metrological traceability of in-vitro diagnostics (IVDs) that underpin an estimated 70% of all medical decisions. Today, the network continues to engage with key stakeholders to ensure that the measurement needs of the health sector are consistently met.

Calibration Laboratories

Calibration laboratories play a key role in the metrological traceability chain - they are the link between National Metrology Institutes (NMIs) or Designated Institutes (DIs), and the routine testing laboratories.
By making their services traceable to the SI (e.g. by providing intercomparisons with metrology institutes), calibration laboratories serve as multipliers to the IVD industry and medical laboratories. In this way, they provide SI traceability to a broad base of end-users so they can meet the demands of EU regulation, for instance, the directive 2017/746 on metrological traceability.

Partnering with EMN TraceLabMed

EMN TraceLabMed is proud to announce the official joining of its new partners; the calibration laboratories INSTAND, Ref4U, RfB and WEQAS. The partners recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding to formally become a part of EURAMET’s network.

Katleen Van Uytfanghe, from Ref4U, comments: “The core mission statement of RefU4, as a calibration laboratory, is to support efforts to develop and implement a measurement infrastructure for SI-traceable measurands in laboratory medicine. A close collaboration with NMIs, DIs and calibration laboratories via a partnership in EMN TraceLabMed will further underpin the engagements of RefU4.”

The EMN believes that close collaboration between NMIs, DIs and calibration laboratories will significantly improve the dissemination of metrological concepts in laboratory medicine, and is also fundamental for stimulating the development of new reference measurement methods for further measurands in laboratory medicine.

Anja Kessler, from RfB, has also provided the following statement:
“In order to actively implement metrological traceability, a functioning network between NMIs and calibration laboratories is necessary. Therefore, the EMN is an important milestone for establishing traceability in laboratory medicine for the benefit of patients in the long-term. RfB is happy to be part of this network.”

And, from INSTAND, Patricia Kaiser comments:
"As an internationally active EQA organisation with its own calibration laboratory, Instand has supported the concept of metrological traceability of measurement results for many decades. The close cooperation within the EMN metrological network is of particular importance to us. We are pleased to be able to contribute within the framework of this cooperation to meet the future demands on metrology in laboratory medicine in the interest of patient safety."

Together with INSTAND, Ref4u, RfB and WEQAS, the European Metrology Network has now successfully consolidated this crucial strategic partnership.

More information about the new partnering laboratories

INSTAND, Ref4U, RfB and WEQAS are non-profit organisations and operating calibration laboratories, accredited to ISO 17025 and ISO 15195. Accredited calibration services are listed in the database of the Joint Committee for Traceability in Laboratory Medicine (JCTLM) and are available to the IVD industry, quality control manufacturers, External Quality Assessment (EQA) providers and clinical laboratories.

The external quality assessment schemes offered by INSTAND, RfB and WEQAS are accredited to ISO 17043 and are supplied to international customers like medical laboratories, independent pharmacies, primary care physicians, occupational health providers, forensic pathology services, veterinary pathology laboratories, clinical trial units and diagnostic companies. Many of the offered EQA schemes are underpinned by metrological traceability.

For questions and further information, please contact EURAMET’s EMN for Traceability in Laboratory Medicine >>