When you send samples to an ISO 17025 accredited testing laboratory, you are trusting that they will be handled with care, consistency and technical control from the moment they arrive.
As specialists in RPE testing, we know that every sample represents more than just a product. It may form part of a compliance programme, product development project, quality investigation or customer assurance process.
When samples arrive at the lab, the first step is identification, labelling and booking into our laboratory system. Each item is carefully labelled and formally logged, linking it to the customer, project, test requirements and any supporting information provided. This ensures clear traceability from receipt through to testing, reporting and return or disposal, where applicable.
We then carry out a detailed inspection. This allows us to check the condition of the samples as received, confirm what has been supplied and identify anything that may need clarification before testing begins.
Once the samples have been booked in and inspected, we notify the customer that they have been received, giving reassurance that the items are safely with us and that the laboratory process is underway. This step also allows us to communicate any questions or comments we might have, following the inspection.
Before any testing is planned, our team takes time to familiarise themselves with the product and the Instructions for Use. For RPE, understanding the design, intended use, markings, components and user instructions is essential. It helps ensure that testing is approached in the correct context and that any observations are made with a full understanding of the product.
It may sound simple, but these early stages are vital. Labelling, booking in, inspection and review all support traceability, impartiality and reliable testing outcomes. They are part of the disciplined laboratory approach that underpins confidence in every result we issue.