An outside check of a lab's competence: a provider circulates an artifact or sample, each lab measures it and reports a value with uncertainty, and the results are scored against a reference value and fixed pass criteria. Accredited labs must take part at intervals that cover their scope, and calibration results are usually scored with the En number. An unsatisfactory result triggers root-cause investigation and corrective action.
Proficiency testing results are in, we got an En of 1.3 on the 100 ohm, so that's a corrective action.
Also heard as
- PT
- proficiency test
- PT scheme
Related terms
En number
A score comparing a lab's result with a reference value, scaled by both expanded uncertainties; 1 or less passes.
Round robin
An interlaboratory comparison in which one artifact or sample travels from lab to lab to be measured by each.
ISO 17025
The international standard setting the competence requirements for testing and calibration laboratories.
Reproducibility
How well results on the same item agree when the lab, operator, equipment or day is changed on purpose.