Proficiency Testing Australia (PTA) is one of Australia’s largest and most experienced proficiency testing providers.  PTA is a wholly owned subsidiary of the National Association of Testing Authorities, Australia (NATA) and was formed on 1 January 2006 to offer industry a choice of proficiency testing services for calibration, testing and inspection.  PTA provides a diverse range of proficiency testing programs and measurement audits to a very broad range of industries.  PTA delivers its proficiency testing, consultancy and training services internationally and nationally across Australia, with operations based in Sydney (head office) and Brisbane.  

PTA is:

• a leading national and international provider of proficiency testing programs and measurement audits;
  
  
• a leading international provider of training and consultancy in proficiency testing;
  
  
• supported by industry groups and technical experts who assist PTA in the planning, conduct, analysis and review of proficiency testing programs and measurement audits;
  
  
• comprised of qualified and experienced staff offering friendly, customer-focussed service;
  
  
• readily accessible, with offices in Sydney and Brisbane;
  
  
• accredited for technical competence as a Proficiency Testing Provider by IANZ¹ , ensuring that its operations remain in compliance with international practices, defined by ISO/IEC 17043:2010²; and
  
  
• a private not-for-profit company, governed by a Board that has representation from industry groups.

WITHIN AUSTRALIA

PTA plays a key role in providing confidence to laboratories in their testing and measurement results.  As a proficiency testing provider, PTA provides a means of assessing the ability of laboratories to competently perform specific tests and measurements.  

PTA is continuously expanding and developing its range of proficiency testing programs, with numerous programs offered in the areas of Chemical Testing, Biological Testing, Construction Materials, Mechanical Testing, Non-Destructive Testing and Calibration.  PTA is also able to develop customised programs for individual facilities or industry organisations.

INTERNATIONALLY

Internationally, PTA represents Australia through:

• the provision of proficiency testing programs to international participants from Albania, Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, China, Columbia, Croatia, Cuba, Cypress, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, El Salvador, Finland, Fiji, Germany, Guatemala, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Kingdom of Bahrain, Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lithuania, Macau, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sultanate of Oman, Sweden, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, USA, Uruguay, Vietnam, Zambia, Zimbabwe;
  
  
• the provision of attachment training on proficiency testing for staff from developing proficiency testing providers and accreditation bodies, which has included trainees from Papua New Guinea Laboratory Accreditation Scheme (PNGLAS), National Quality Control Laboratory of Drug & Food - Indonesia, International Accreditation Japan (IAJapan), Pakistan National Accreditation Council, BoA - Vietnam and Korea Water Resources Corporation (K Water) and Botswana Bureau of Standards (BOB);the provision of proficiency testing training courses in numerous countries, including Austria, Egypt, Kingdom of Bahrain, Malaysia, Philippines and Vietnam;
  
  
• its involvement in the preparation and presentation of APLAC³ Proficiency Testing training courses and workshops;
  
  
• representing APLAC at the ILAC⁴ Proficiency Testing Consultative Group meeting and at the European Accreditation Cooperation ILC Testing meetings;
  
  
• providing extensive input into a number of international committees, such as APLAC Proficiency Testing, ILAC Proficiency Testing Working Group and the European Accreditation Interlaboratory Committee;
  
  
• extensive input into the revision of international standards and guidelines, ILAC P9⁶, as well as providing input into the development of ISO/IEC 17043;
  
  
• the provision of a training course and the development of a proficiency testing training manual for use by developing economies, as requested by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Trade Capacity Building Branch;
  
  
• its agreement with Shanghai Liangpin Testing Technology Services Co., Ltd (China), who act as a local agent for a range of PTA’s proficiency testing programs;
  
  
• its agreement with Pasagrad Quality Pioneers (Iran), who act as a local agent for a range of PTA’s proficiency testing programs;
  
  
• its agreement with Abu Dhabi Environmental Services Est. (United Arab Emirates), who act as an agent for a range of PTA’s proficiency testing programs; 
  
  
• its agreement with Innovators Technologies (Pakistan), who act as a local agent for a range of PTA’s proficiency testing programs;
  
  
• its agreement with Charslton Technologies (Singapore/Malaysia), who act as a local agent for a range of PTA’s proficiency testing programs;
  
  
• its agreement with Enlabco (Columbia), who act as a local agent for a range of PTA’s proficiency testing programs;
  
  
• liaison with the International Committee of Analysis for the Steel and Iron Industry (ICASI), through PTA’s membership of its Executive Committee, regarding the dissemination of Metallurgical proficiency testing program information throughout the Asia-Pacific region and Europe;
  
  
• liaison with the African Committee of Metrology (CAFMET) through its membership on the Scientific Committee for Interlaboratory Comparisons; 
  
  
• providing consultancy to Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) Technical Cooperation Division in developing a proficiency testing workshop for the InterAmerican Accreditation Cooperation (IAAC); 
  
  
• providing ISO/IEC 17043 compliance audit services in Iran, Mongolia, Singapore and Vietnam;
  
  
• presenting proficiency testing papers at international conferences; and 
  
  
• providing ISO 13528⁶ training services in Singapore.

CONSULTANCY SERVICES

PTA provides a range of consulting services designed to improve business performance and reduce exposure to risk.  These consulting services are tailored to meet specific client needs and are provided across a range of disciplines including:

• Proficiency testing; 
• Method validation; 
• Data analysis; 
• Reporting; 
• Quality management; and 
• Specialised technical services.

Proficiency Testing Australia has conducted statistical consultancy services for Australian Commonwealth Government departments, industry associations, laboratory accreditation bodies and reference material producers.  PTA provides statistical consultation to the Australian Government Department of Agriculture via the National Residue Survey (NRS).

FOR MORE INFORMATION

More information about PTA’s proficiency testing programs, measurement audits, consultancy and training is available by contacting PTA on:

T +61 2 9736 8397

E This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

More information about all of PTA’s activities can be found on the PTA website

¹ International Accreditation New Zealand
² ISO/IEC 17043:2010 Conformity assessment - General requirements for proficiency testing
³ International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation
⁴ ISO/IEC 17011:2004 Conformity assessment - General requirements for accreditation bodies accrediting conformity assessment bodies
⁵ APLAC MR001 Procedures for Establishing and Maintaining the APLAC Mutual Recognition Agreement Amongst Accreditation Bodies
⁶ ILAC-P9:2005 ILAC Policy for Participation in National and International Proficiency Testing Activities
⁷ APLAC PT 006 Proficiency Testing Frequency Benchmarks
⁸ ISO 13528:2015 Statistical methods for use in proficiency testing by interlaboratory comparison