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

HKAS Accreditation Criteria for proficiency testing providers are in accordance with ISO/IEC 17043:2010 "Conformity assessment - General requirements for proficiency testing". Clauses 4 and 5 of the Standard are reproduced verbatim in HOKLAS 017 (Second Edition) which also includes the HOKLAS policies on application of the requirements.

ISO/IEC 17043 contains both technical requirements and management requirements.

 

For reference material producers

In the first phase of this programme, it will cover chemical reference materials, both certified and non-certified. As the need arises, the programme may be extended to cover other types of reference materials.

The accreditation criteria is given in HOKLAS 022 Technical Criteria for the Accreditation of Reference Material Producers. The main text of this document is a verbatim reproduction of ISO Guide 34:2009. In addition, HOKLAS policies on individual elements are given in this document. Reference Material Producers interested in seeking our accreditation may contact HKAS Secretariat to obtain a copy of this document. An abridged version with the main text removed is available from our website at www.hkas.gov.hk. Copies of original ISO Guide 34:2009 are available for purchase from Innovation and Technology Commission and International Organisation for Standardisation.

Accreditation Regulations Specific to HOKLAS - Reference Material Producers are given in HOKLAS Supplementary Criteria No. 39. This document is available from our website.

 

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.

Available Accreditation Services

HKAS accreditation services are classified in accordance with test categories and test areas. Accreditation services currently available are detailed below. HKAS will provide new accreditation service from time to time. 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
	Electrical Measurements
	Ionising Radiation
	Mass Measurements
	Mechanical & Metrology Measurements
	Temperature & Humidity Measurements
	Volume Measurements
Chemical Testing	Azodye	Dr. C W Ho
	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. D D Ho, Dr. C W Ho
	Race Control Analysis	Dr. C W Ho
	Toxic Elements - Total Lead and Cadmium Contents
	Trace Metals - Consumer Products
	Trace Organic Residue - Leather, Textile and Wood
Chinese Medicine	Microbiological examination	Dr. D D Ho, Dr. C W Ho
	Organic residues
	Toxic element analysis
Construction Materials	Acoustic Tests	Mr Jeffrey T T Leung
	Bituminous Materials	Mr C F Pang
	Building Components - Bathroom and Kitchen sets, , Doors, Gates, Joint fillers and Tiles
	Building Components - Blocks and Bricks, Tapeware and Valves
	Building Components - Curtain Wall, Windows and Pipes	Mr Steven F C Lee
	Building Components - Ironmongery	Mr. K W Chen
	Chemical Analysis	Dr. D D Ho
	Concrete and Concrete Constituent Materials	Dr Fiona W Y Chan
	Diagnostic Tests on Concrete
	Fire Testing	Mr Steven F C Lee
	Foundation Testing	Dr Fiona W Y Chan
	Non Destructive Test - Welding of Steel	Mr Steven F C Lee
	Soil and Rock	Mr. K M Heung
	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
	Product Performance
	Telecommunication Equipment
	US EPA ENERGY STAR® Program	Mr. C C Leung
	Others	Mr. K W Chen
Environmental Testing	Air Quality Monitoring	Dr. D D Ho
	Asbestos
	Environmental Radiation Monitoring	Dr. C W Ho
	Noise	Mr. K M Heung
	Saline Water	Mr. W W Wong
	Sediment, Soil & Biota - Trace Metals, Organic Pollutants
	Water & Wastewater
Food	Chemical	Dr. D D Ho, Dr. C W Ho
	Food Composition	Dr. C W Ho
	Food Containers - Chemical
	Genetically Modified Organisms
	Microbiological
Forensic Testing		Mr. W W Wong
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. C W Ho
	Cosmetics, Pharmaceutical Products and Sterile Products (Microbiological Tests)
	Petroleum Products
	Gas Appliances Testing	Mr. K W Chen
	Polymer Testing
	Sound Measurements
Proficiency Testing Provider
	Chinese Medicine	Mr. W W Wong
	Environmental Testing
	Food
	Medical Testing	Ms. Bella S W Ho
Pharmaceutical Products	Physical and Chemical Tests	Dr Daria C H Wong
	Microbiological Examination
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 Jeffrey T T Leung
	Metal Finished Products	Dr. C W Ho
	Paper and Paperboard Products	Mr. K W Chen
Reference Material Producer
	Chinese Medicine	Mr. W W Wong
	Food
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
Testing Required By The China Compulsory Certification System (CCC)	Information Technology Equipment	Mr. K W Chen
	Lighting apparatus
	Switches, Protective Devices and Connection Devices for Electrical Installations
	Toys
Toys and Children's Products	Chemical Tests	Dr. C W Ho
	Electrical Tests	Mr. K W Chen
	Flammability Tests	Mr. W L Shum
	Microbiological Tests	Dr. C W Ho
	Physical & Mechanical Tests	Mr. K W Chen
	Safety & Performance Tests

HKAS also provides accreditation service to support Hong Kong laboratories to participate in overseas testing and certification programs. Currently, such supporting service is available for the following:

• Testing for the China Compulsory Certification (CCC) System
• US EPA ENERGY STAR^® Program

For more details, please check the above titles.

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 T082 Essential and Toxic Elements in Seafood	Food	Jul 2011	Jun 2012	Testing in progress. Result submission deadline is 31 Jan 2012.
APLAC T081 Pesticides in Green Tea	Food	Aug 2011	Aug 2012	Samples will be despatched in Nov 2011.
APLAC T078 PolyCyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Sediment	Environmental Testing	Jul 2010	Feb 2011	Final Report was published in Apr 2011
APLAC T077 Essential and Toxic Elements in Bovine Liver	Food	Aug 2010	Mar 2011	Final Report was published in May 2011.
APLAC T071 Melamine in Milk	Food	Jun 2009	Dec 2009	Final Report was published in Dec 2009.
- - Proof Load Test on Anchor Bolts	Construction Materials	-	-	Planning.
- - Non-Destructive Test (NDT)-Covermeter Test	Construction Materials	-	-	Planning.
- - Non-Destructive Test (NDT)-Welding	Construction Materials	-	-	Planning.
HCAL/2011/01 Calibration of a 61/2-digit DMM	Calibration Service	Sep 2011	Jun 2012	Testing in progress.
HCM/2011/01 Determination of Liquid and Plastic Limits of Soil	Construction Materials	Sep 2011	Jan 2012	Interim Report was issued on 28 Oct 2011.
HCM/2010/05 Determination of Flakiness and Elongation Indices of Aggregates	Construction Materials	Nov 2010	Feb 2011	Final Report was published in Mar 2011
HCM/2010/04 Determination of Unit Mass, Yield Stress, Tensile Strength & Total Elongation at Fracture of Reinforcing Steel	Construction Materials	Jul 2010	Sep 2010	Final Report (revised) was published in Jan 2011.
HCM/2010/03 Determination of Density and Fineness of Cement	Construction Materials	May 2010	Aug 2010	Final Report was published in Nov 2010.
HCM/2010/02 Determination of Compressive Strength & Saturated Densities of Concrete Cubes	Construction Materials	Jun 2010	Sep 2010	Final Report was published in Dec 2010.
HCM/2010/01 Determination of the Bulk Density of Sand for Sand Replacement Test	Construction Materials	Apr 2010	Aug 2010	Final Report was published in Oct 2010.
HFD/2010/01 Metallic Contaminants in Food	Food	Mar 2010	Aug 2010	Final Report was published in Aug 2010.

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.)