
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 ¡V 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 ¡V Guidelines for the Requirements for the Competence of Providers of Proficiency Testing Schemes; and the ISO Guide 43:1997 Proficiency Testing by Interlaboratory Comparisons¡VPart 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. |
Proficiency Testing Providers
HKAS MRA partners offer accreditation service for Proficiency Testing Providers. You may find proficiency testing programmes accredited by these accreditation bodies through their websites.
|
Accreditation body
|
Country |
Website address |
1 |
American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) |
USA |
|
2 |
International Accreditation Service (IAS) |
USA |
http://www.iasonline.org/ |
3 |
Raad Voor Accreditatie (Dutch Accreditation Council) (RvA) |
The Netherlands |
|
4 |
National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) |
Australia |
|
5 |
International Accreditation New Zealand(IANZ) |
New Zealand |
https://secure.ianz.govt.nz/scripts/IANZWebSearch/ |
6 |
Czech Accreditation Institute (CAI) |
Czech Republic |
|
7 |
China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment (CNAS) |
China |
|
8 |
The United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) |
UK |
http://www.ukas.com/about-accreditation/ |
9 |
Standards Council of Canada (SCC) |
Canada |
Other proficiency testing programmes
Information on other proficiency testing programmes are also available on the database maintained by the European information system on proficiency testing schemes (EPTIS). Laboratories are recommended to check with the relevant PT providers on their accreditation status before participation.
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.)

