What is ISO/IEC 17025?
ISO/IEC 17025 is the international gold standard for testing and calibration laboratories. This standard, produced by ISO (International Standards Organization) and IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission), includes requirements to ensure laboratories are competent, impartial, and consistently operate. For a lab to become ISO/IEC 17025 accredited, it undergoes assessments by a third party accreditation body to prove its operations meet the rigorous requirements for technical competence, quality control processes, traceability, and more listed in the ISO/IEC 17025 standard.
Accreditation bodies: What’s the difference?
ISO/IEC is the organization which produces the 17025 standard, however they do not assess organizations on compliance to those standards. That is where the independent accreditation bodies come in, these businesses are experts in assessing the compliance to these international standards.
We selected Perry Johnson Laboratory Accreditation (PJLA) as our accreditation body for ISO/IEC 17025. PJLA has a wide breadth of experience with the ISO/IEC 17024 standard across a huge range of industries, and with our novel AI-based analysis method we were confident that an organization like PJLA would have the experience and expertise with these types of systems in other industries. In our initialization process, we spoke with other accreditation bodies who were unsure or unable to assess systems like ours confidently.
Some inspectors have asked specifically why Sporecyte holds ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation through PJLA instead of AIHA EMLAP accreditation. Here’s what you need to know:
But not every environment calls for the same approach. The International Association of Certified Indoor Air Consultants (IAC) suggests that on calm, windless days with low contamination, a longer 10-minute sampling can summon more comprehensive results. For most indoor spaces, a five-minute sampling provides the ideal mix of speed and accuracy, helping you capture clear data without a hitch, even when haunted by tricky conditions.
- Same standard, different accrediting bodies:
Both PJLA (Perry Johnson Laboratory Accreditation, Inc.) and AIHA (American Industrial Hygiene Association) accredit labs to the same ISO/IEC 17025 standard. They assess a lab’s quality system, technical procedures, and ability to produce accurate results in relation to the ISO/IEC 17025 standard. AIHA does have some specific additional requirements beyond ISO/IEC 170245, such as participation in an AIHA proficiency testing program. Sporecyte currently participates in the AIHA EMPAT Program for direct read fungal analysis.
- PJLA is globally recognized through ILAC-MRA:
Both PJLA and AIHA are signatories of the ILAC-MRA (International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation Mutual Recognition Arrangement). This means that ISO 17025 accreditations from PJLA and AIHA are both recognized worldwide as equivalent. - Sporecyte chose PJLA for its AI expertise:
Sporecyte selected PJLA because of their experience accrediting AI-powered labs. Since Sporecyte uses advanced AI technology for mold analysis, PJLA was the best fit at this time to evaluate our digital workflows.
What this means for inspectors:
Home inspectors depend on mold test results to guide their clients in making critical property decisions. An ISO/IEC 17025-accredited lab ensures that the results they share are accurate, reliable, and defensible if ever questioned in a real estate transaction or legal setting.
- You benefit from us adhering to ISO/IEC 17025 quality: Sporecyte’s accreditation meets the same standards as AIHA.
- Globally accepted results: PJLA accreditation is recognized worldwide.
- AI-focused precision: Our lab’s AI-powered results were vetted by a leading expert in digital analysis.
Final Word:
ISO/IEC 17025 is the highest level of laboratory quality assurance, and Sporecyte’s PJLA accreditation is every bit as credible and valuable as an AIHA accreditation. When you partner with Sporecyte, you can confidently present your mold reports to clients, real estate agents, or legal representatives, knowing that they meet the highest global standards.
Have more questions about Sporecyte’s accreditation? Contact us—we’re happy to provide details or our accreditation certificate.
