European Turfgrass Laboratories (ETL) has had its American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) Accreditation extended until April 2017.

An assessor from A2LA conducted an on-site visit to ETL’s facility in Stirling, Scotland, in March this year to complete an audit of the laboratory’s quality system, staff and testing procedures.

A2LA’s accreditation process is a very stringent one, and sees ETL participate in a proficiency testing programme where three time a year, all accredited laboratories are given the same rootzone, peat and gravel samples to test. The data is then statistically analysed, with any outlying results then being addressed. All documentation, calibration and operating procedures are kept up-to-date and monitored, before reference samples are run alongside real samples. This helps ensure all equipment is performing adequately.

ETL is one of only ten laboratories globally that is accredited to the putting green materials programme. The company’s team has shown on-going competency in testing materials and vast experience in the analysis of samples from across the world.

“The A2LA accreditation is invaluable because it ensures that the services offered by ETL are subjected to continual assessment, both internal and external, with traceability to national standards,” said Sharon Singleton-Bruce, ETL’s laboratory manager and director. “Being only one of ten laboratories in the world, the first outside of North America and with 19 years’ experience in the testing of materials, we are very much focused on providing a good customer service: consistency, reliability, accuracy and the fast turnaround of results are key to our business. Many of our clients wouldn’t believe the level of quality assurance that occurs behind the scenes at ETL, but it all points towards the foundation of a well-established, USGA approved physical testing laboratory.”