The Hong Kong Laboratory Accreditation Scheme (HOKLAS)

HOKLAS is an accreditation scheme operated by Hong Kong Accreditation Service (HKAS). The scheme is open to voluntary participation from any Hong Kong laboratory that performs objective testing and calibration falling within the scope of the Scheme and meets the HOKLAS criteria of competence. The aims of HOKLAS are:

• to upgrade the standard of testing and management of Hong Kong laboratories,
• to identify and officially recognise competent testing and calibration laboratories in Hong Kong,
• to promote the acceptance of test and calibration data from accredited laboratories, both locally and internationally.

Accreditation Criteria

For non-medical testing and calibration laboratories

HOKLAS Accreditation Criteria are in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025:2005 "General Requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories". Clauses 4 and 5 of the Standard are reproduced verbatim in HOKLAS 003 which also includes the HOKLAS policies on application of the requirements.

ISO/IEC 17025 contains both management system requirements and technical requirements.

For medical testing laboratories

HOKLAS Accreditation Criteria are in accordance with ISO 15189:2007(E) "Medical laboratories – Particular requirements for quality and competence". Clauses 4 and 5 of the Standard are reproduced verbatim in HOKLAS 015 which also includes the HOKLAS policies on application of the requirements.

ISO 15189 contains both management system requirements and technical requirements.

For proficiency testing providers

The accreditation requirements are in accordance with those stated in ILAC G13:08/2007 – Guidelines for the Requirements for the Competence of Providers of Proficiency Testing Schemes; and the ISO Guide 43:1997 Proficiency Testing by Interlaboratory Comparisons–Part 1: Development and Operation of Proficiency Testing Schemes. The ILAC G13:08/2007 is available from ILAC’s website: http://www.ilac.org/guidanceseries.html. Other requirements are included in HKAS 002, HKAS Supplementary Criteria, and relevant HOKLAS Supplementary Criteria.

Accreditation is recognition of a laboratory's capability to perform specific tests and does not guarantee individual test results or equate with product certification. Laboratories accredited or seeking accreditation under HOKLAS are required to have their testing and measuring equipment regularly calibrated by a competent calibration organisation to obtain measurement traceability to the International System of Units (SI). The Standards and Calibration Laboratory - The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has been designated by HOKLAS as one of such competent calibration organisations capable of providing the necessary measurement traceability.

Test Categories and Areas

For details of tests and calibration covered, please contact the respective accreditation officer.

Test Categories	Test Areas	Accreditation Officers
Calibration Services	Acoustic and Vibration Measurements	Mr. K W Chen
	Construction Materials Testing Equipment	Mr. C K Cheung
	Electrical Measurements	Mr. K W Chen
	Ionising Radiation
	Mass Measurements
	Mechanical & Metrology Measurements
	Temperature & Humidity Measurements
	Volume Measurements
Chemical Testing	Azodye	Dr. W T Tang
	Cadmium
	Composition - Gas Products
	Composition - Metal and Metallic Alloys
	Composition - Precious Metal Analysis
	Corrosion Test
	Dangerous goods
	Non-metallic Constituents - Coal
	Non-metallic Constituents - Gypsum
	Pharmaceutical Analysis	Dr. K C Woo, Dr. W T Tang
	Race Control Analysis	Dr. W T Tang
	Toxic Elements - Total Lead and Cadmium Contents
	Trace Metals - Consumer Products
	Trace Organic Residue - Leather, Textile and Wood
Chinese Medicine	Microbiological examination	Dr. K C Woo, Dr. W T Tang
	Organic residues
	Toxic element analysis
Construction Materials	Acoustic Tests	Mr. C K Cheung
	Bituminous Materials	Ms. Julia M Y Lee
	Building Components - Bathroom and Kitchen sets, , Doors, Gates, Joint fillers, Tiles and Windows	Ms. Julia M Y Lee
	Building Components - Blocks and Bricks, Curtain wall, Pipes, Tapeware and valves	Mr. C K Cheung
	Building Components - Ironmongery	Mr. K W Chen
	Chemical Analysis	Dr. K C Woo
	Concrete and Concrete Constituent Materials - Admixtures, Bentonite, Cement, Concrete, Glass Fibre Reinforced Concrete, Grout, Gypsum, Mortar, Polymer Latex, Polymer Modified Mortar and Prebagged Materials, Pulverised Fuel Ash, Screed, Water	Ms. Julia M Y Lee
	Concrete and Concrete Constituent Materials - Adhesive, Anchor bolts, Aggregates, Coating	Ms. Julia M Y Lee
	Diagnostic Tests on Concrete	Ms. Julia M Y Lee
	Fire Testing	Mr. C K Cheung
	Foundation Testing
	Non Destruction Test - Welding of Steel, Thermographic	Mr Gordon K C Kwok
	Soil and Rock
	Steel - Cold Reduced Wire, Metallic Materials, Railway Rolling Stock, Reinforcing steel, Steel Fabric, Structural Steel	Mr. C F Pang
Electrical and Electronic Products	Compliance Inspection and Safety Tests	Mr. K W Chen
	EMC Tests
	Others
	Product Performance
	Telecommunication Equipment
Environmental Testing	Air Quality Monitoring	Dr. K C Woo
	Asbestos
	Environmental Radiation Monitoring	Dr. W T Tang
	Noise	Mr. C K Cheung
	Saline Water	Mr. W W Wong
	Sediment, Soil & Biota - Trace Metals, Organic Pollutants
	Water & Wastewater
Food	Chemical	Dr. W T Tang, Dr. K C Woo
	Food Composition	Dr. W T Tang
	Food Containers - Chemical
	Genetically Modified Organisms
	Microbiological
Medical Testing	Autopsy	Ms. Bella S W Ho
	Chemical Pathology
	Clinical Microbiology and Infection
	Cytogenetics
	Cytopathology
	Haematology
	Histopathology
	Immunology
	Molecular Genetics
Miscellaneous
	Cigarette Testing	Dr. W T Tang
	Cosmetics, Pharmaceutical Products and Sterile Products (Microbiological Tests)
	Petroleum Products
	Gas Appliances Testing	Mr. K W Chen
	Polymer Testing
	Sound Measurements
Proficiency Testing Provider		Ms. Bella S W Ho
Physical and Mechanical Testing	Condom	Mr. W L Shum
	Cutlery and Cookware	Mr. K W Chen
	Flexible Rubber Tubing for LPG and Towngas
	Furniture Testing
	Gemstone Testing	Mr. C K Cheung
	Metal Finished Products	Dr. W T Tang
	Paper and Paperboard Products	Mr. K W Chen
Textiles and Garments	Care Performance Test/Dimensional Stability	Mr. W L Shum
	Chemical Analysis
	Colour Fastness Test
	Construction Test
	Feather and Down Analysis
	Fibre Analysis
	Flammability Test
	Performance Test
	Strength Test
Toys and Children's Products	Chemical Tests	Dr. W T Tang
	Electrical Tests	Mr. K W Chen
	Flammability Tests	Mr. W L Shum
	Microbiological Tests	Dr. W T Tang
	Physical & Mechanical Tests	Mr. K W Chen
	Safety Tests

Proficiency Testing

HKAS coordinates proficiency testing programmes covering different test categories. Accredited and applicant laboratories may be invited to participate in these proficiency testing programmes. Interested parties may contact Mr Calvin Ho at 2829 4804 for details.

Programme	Test Category	Starting Date	Final Report Distribution (Tentative Date)	Status
APLAC T078 PolyCyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Sediment	Environmental Testing	Jul 2010	Feb 2011	Invitation of participants is scheduled for Jul/Aug 2010.
APLAC T073 Nutrients in Food	Food	Sep 2009	Mar 2010	Final Report was published in Mar 2010.
APLAC T071 Melamine in Milk	Food	Jun 2009	Dec 2009	Final Report was published in Dec 2009.
APLAC T069 Melamine in Fish Feed	Food	Mar 2009	Sep 2009	Final Report was published in Aug 2009.
APLAC T068 Determination of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Sediment	Environmental Testing	Oct 2008	Apr 2009	Final Report was published in May 2009.
HCM/2010/05 Determination of Flakiness Index of Aggregates	Construction Materials	-	-	Planning.
HCM/2010/04 Determination of Tensile Strength in Reinforcing Steel	Construction Materials	Jul 2010	Sep 2010	Testing in progress. Result submission deadline is 2-6 Aug 2010.
HCM/2010/03 Determination of Density and Fineness of Cement	Construction Materials	May 2010	Aug 2010	Data analysis in progress.
HCM/2010/02 Determination of Compressive Strength of Concrete Cube	Construction Materials	Jun 2010	Sep 2010	Testing in progress. Result submission deadline is 2-6 Aug 2010.
HCM/2010/01 Determination of the Bulk Density of Sand for Sand Replacement Test	Construction Materials	Apr 2010	Aug 2010	Data analysis in progress.
HFD/2010/01 Metallic Contaminants in Food	Food	Mar 2010	Aug 2010	Interim Report was issued on 22 Jul 2010.
HTG/2009/01 Textile - Colour Fastness, Construction and Performance Tests	Textiles and Garments	Mar 2009	Oct 2009	Final Report was published in Nov 2009.

Accreditation Process

A laboratory interested in joining the HOKLAS scheme should contact the HKAS Executive to obtain the necessary documents. The accreditation process is shown below:

The compliance of an applicant laboratory is determined through rigorous on-site assessment conducted by a team of independent specialist assessors. The assessors' findings and reports are evaluated by the Accreditation Advisory Board (AAB) which makes recommendations in respect of a laboratory's fitness to be accredited.

Maintenance of Accreditation of a Laboratory

Mandatory reassessments are conducted one year after the granting of accreditation and at two-year intervals thereafter. Surveillance visits, announced or unannounced, are also conducted. Accredited laboratories are visited at least once a year and are required to participate in proficiency testing activity at least once every four years for each major sub-area of major disciplines.

What is a HOKLAS endorsed test certificate?

HOKLAS accreditation is granted for specific tests or calibrations. An accredited laboratory is allowed to issue HOKLAS endorsed test reports/certificates only for tests and calibrations which it is accredited. The laboratory may carry out other activities for which it does not hold HOKLAS accreditation, but if it wishes to include the results of such activities on a HOKLAS endorsed test report/certificate, approval from the HKAS Executive must be obtained. Such activities will have to be clearly marked as non-accredited.

Users of HOKLAS accredited laboratory service should note that because a laboratory's accreditation for an individual test or calibration, or a range of tests or calibrations, may be granted, modified or withdrawn at any time, it is important to insist on that the results be reported in certificates or reports which are HOKLAS endorsed. If there is any doubt please check the current status of an accreditation with the HKAS Executive. Alternatively, the up-to-date accreditation status of a laboratory can be found at this website under "Directory of Accredited Laboratory"

A HOKLAS endorsed certificate should contain the information shown below:

Test Methods

It is the responsibility of the customer to specify test methods, where necessary, after discussion with the laboratory. HOKLAS does not dictate tests or rule on relative merits of test methods.

Measurement Traceability

Specific recommendations for calibration and recalibration of selected items of equipment required by laboratories operating in the test categories for which HOKLAS accreditation are given in HOKLAS Supplementary Criteria No. 2. Where traceability to the International System of Units (SI) is required, the calibration is to be performed by a "competent calibration body"

Click here for the list of nominated primary standards institutions.

Click here for the list of laboratories accredited by HOKLAS for specific calibration services.

Click here to access websites of MRA partners of HOKLAS (Accessibility to lists of laboratories accredited by MRA partners for specific calibration services will depend on the structure of individual accreditation body's webpage.)