Forensic Quality Services Homepage

Forensic Quality Services Logo

Forensic Quality Services International (FQS-I) is the name used by Forensic Quality Services, Inc., to identify its accreditation services. FQS is a not-for-profit membership organization incorporated in Florida. The membership structure, board of directors, and activities of FQS are described below.

FQS accreditation services to forensic service providers are provided in conformity with relevant national and international standards. Currently the standards that are the basis of our accreditation programs are: ISO/IEC 17025:2005; ILAC Guide 19:2002; and The National QA Standards for DNA Testing.

FQS provides its accreditation services in a manner that ensures impartiality and objectivity. Assessment procedures and decisions on accreditation are conducted according to polices and procedures designed to ensure that FQS and personnel involved in its accreditation activities are impartial, thereby giving stakeholders confidence in their activities and their outcomes.

We are pleased to announce that FQS is recognized by the NDIS Procedures Board as meeting the requirements to accredit laboratories participating in NDIS or seeking to participate in NDIS, and has been recognized since 2004 as complying with the requirements of ISO/IEC 17011:2005.

About Us
Accreditation
Frequently Asked Questions
Documents, Forms, Guidance and Policies
Accredited Agencies
Proficiency Testing
Logos and Symbols

About Us

The FQS Board of Directors, as of the Annual Meeting held on September 21, 2009, is:

Benjamin Perillo - President
Sudhir Sinha - Treasurer
Arthur Eisenberg - Secretary
Greggory LaBerge - Director
William Tilstone – Director

FQS Members

FQS is a membership corporation. All accredited agencies are members, together with
Barry A J Fisher, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Laboratory and Clifton Vander Ark, (retired Quality Manager Arizona DPS), representing the forensic science community at large.

Back to Top

How Do I Become Accredited?

What Are the Accreditation Requirements?

“The applicant agency must satisfy all of the Management and Technical Requirements of ISO/IEC17025, as referred to in the FQS-I General Requirements for Accreditation (GRA) and published in ISO/IED17025. The agency must also satisfy the requirements of the applicable Forensic Requirements for Accreditation. These additional criteria are intended to describe what constitutes acceptable practice in the particular field of accreditation.”

"Compliance is measured by an on-site assessment of policies, procedures and practices. The FQS-I accreditation cycle is flexible. The recommended duration of accreditation is four years, but a different period may be established depending on the needs of the customer, with a maximum of five years. However, in all cases there must be sufficiently rigorous surveillance to ensure that conformance to standards is maintained.

- Can I Get a Pre-Accreditation Audit?
- Is It Worth the Pain?
- How Are Minor Technical Transgressions Handled?
- How Does FQS-I Treat a Problem in One Section of a Laboratory?
- Does Accreditation of an Individual Section Have to Wait Until All Areas are in Compliance?
- Are Results Known When the Team Leaves?
- What Are the Proficiency Testing Requirements of the FQS-I Program?
- Is There Any Reason To Be Afraid of This New ISO Stuff?
- Is ISO Relevant To the Needs of a Forensic Testing Laboratory?

Can I Get a Pre-Accreditation Audit?

Yes, a laboratory can request a preliminary visit as part of its preparations for accreditation. The visit will consist of a full audit to ISO/IEC 17025:2005 and all other standards that would apply – for example, the National Quality Assurance Standards in the case of U.S Laboratories conducting forensic DNA testing. The team will provide a report indentifying non-conformities (instances where the standards are not being met), concerns (policies, procedure or practices that, while not in conflict with the requirements of the standards, may lead to a detrimental effect on the quality of testing and that therefore requires attention), and comments (examples of good practices). Team members are not permitted to provide advice and the report is solely a factual account of conformity.

Is It Worth the Pain?

There is a myth that accreditation is one of the “no pain, no gain” areas of life for a testing laboratory. However, pain is not a requirement during the accreditation process. FQS-I accreditation program will assist you in creating an effective quality system that focuses on providing a quality service to your clients. The assessment process should be a positive experience at all times, ultimately accomplishing something of which you can be proud.

Sure, during the initial review, there may well be several areas of non-conformance. The assessors should have persuasive, objective evidence that you are not in conformance. They should be able to show you where the problem lies and why it is a non-conformance with the standards. The combination of an experienced, well-trained Lead Assessor and a Technical Assessor team with current best practice knowledge in the test area creates the basis for an effective and fair evaluation.

How Are Minor Technical Transgressions Handled?

FQS-I program focuses on the effectiveness of your quality system and the quality of your test results. Non-conformances that do not directly affect the quality of your test results are treated as opportunities for improvement.

How Does FQS-I Treat a Problem in One Section of a Laboratory?

FQS-I treats individual testing areas in each laboratory separately. ISO accreditation programs, run in compliance with national and international standards for the operation of accrediting bodies, require that the laboratory has a detailed scope of accreditation. For example, the assessment would focus on your fire debris testing, without regard for other testing areas that may also be conducted in your facility.

Does Accreditation of an Individual Section Have to Wait Until All Areas are in Compliance?

No. For example, if the document and firearms examination sections are ready, but drug chemistry and latent prints are not, the accreditation can proceed in any or all compliant sections. Any restrictions will be declared in the scope, and other sections can be added as soon as they are ready. This can be a very effective way to pursue accreditation as the non-conforming sections can build on the experience of the ones that have met the accreditation standards.

Are Results Known When the Team Leaves?

Yes. FQS-I's Lead Assessor provides a list of non-conformities, concerns and comments at the close out meeting.

What are the Proficiency Testing Requirements of the FQS-I Program?

Apart from complying with the requirements of any applicable community consensus standard for proficiency testing, such as the requirements of the National QA Standards for DNA Testing, all you have to show is an effective proficiency testing (PT) program as part of the way that you control your quality. You have the options of internal programs and voluntary inter-laboratory collaborative trials as well as purchasing from external sources. The use of standards and certified reference materials are considered along with your PT program.

Is There Any Reason To Be Afraid of This New ISO Stuff?

No reason at all. ISO accreditation has been around for decades and is working effectively in countless testing laboratories in all industrialized countries.

Is ISO Relevant To the Needs of a Forensic Testing Laboratory?

Yes, the program consists of three parts: One part deals with your management system, verifying that you have the systems to do the right thing in the right way. The second part deals with technical matters, addressing quality assurance at the testing, evaluation, and reporting levels. The third area utilizes a set of field specific criteria to illustrate compliance factors in the test area.

FQS-I's program uses field criteria based on the international consensus guide for forensic science published by the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) (www.ilac.org), as well as any relevant national QA criteria (such as those published by the various Scientific Working Groups (SWG). FQS-I also provides a range of guidelines to assist with specific clauses in the standard.

Documents, Forms, Guidance and Policies

FQS-I has a comprehensive list of documents, forms, guidance and policies to help you, including:
Detailed information about its assessment and accreditation processes, including arrangements for granting, maintaining, extending, reducing, suspending and withdrawing accreditation;
The requirements for accreditation, including technical requirements specific to each field of accreditation, where applicable;
A description of the rights and obligations of accredited laboratories
Information on procedures for lodging and handling complaints and appeals
Information about the authority under which the accreditation program operates;
A description of its rights and duties;
Guidance and policies on proficiency testing, traceability and uncertainty of measurement

This information is automatically made available to accredited and applicant agencies, and assessors. Other parties interested in this information may submit a request to The Assistant Manager of Accreditation, Pat Bencivenga, by email to pab@forquality.org.

Register of Accredited Laboratories

Click here for a list of suspensions and withdrawals of accreditation

Anti-Doping Research, Inc.
3873 Grand View Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90066
Accreditation Certificate and Scope Document
Accredited through February 8, 2014
_________________________________________________________________
Bode Technology
10430 Furnace Road, Suite 107
Lorton, VA 22079
Accreditation Certificate and Scope Document
Accredited through: May 13, 2013
__________________________________________________________________
Cayman Islands Forensic Science Laboratory
95 Hospital Road, P.O. Box 915
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands KY1-1103
Accreditation Certificate and Scope Document
Accredited through: September 4, 2013
____________________________________________________________________
Chromosomal Laboratories
1825 W. Crest Lane
Phoenix , AZ 85027
Accreditation Certificate and Scope Document
Accredited through: February 08, 2014
____________________________________________________________________
Colorado Springs Police Department Metro Crime Laboratory
705 South Nevada
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Accreditation Certificate and Scope Document
Accredited through: October 10, 2011
__________________________________________________________________
Delaware Office of the Chief Medical Examiner
200 S. Adams
Wilmington, DE 19801
Accreditation Certificate and Scope Document
Accredited through: June 15, 2012
____________________________________________________________________
Denver Police Department
1331 Cherokee Street
Room 648
Denver, Colorado 80204
Accreditation Certificate and Scope Document
Accredited through: July 1, 2011
____________________________________________________________________
DNA Labs International
240 SW Natura Avenue
Deerfield Beach, FL 33441
Accreditation Certificate and Scope Document
Accredited through: October 27, 2013
__________________________________________________________________
EPA, Region 4, Science and Ecosystem Support Division
980 College Station Road
Athens, GA 30605
Accreditation Certificate and Scope Document
Accredited through: March 25, 2010
____________________________________________________________________
Fairfax Identity Laboratories
601 Biotech Drive
Richmond, VA 23235
Accreditation Certificate and Scope Document
Accredited through: March 28, 2010
____________________________________________________________________
Florida Racing Laboratory
P.O. Box 100117
1200 S.W. 34th Street
Gainesville, FL 32611
Accreditation: ISO/IEC 17025 and Field Specific Criteria based on ILAC G7 and State requirements.
Accreditation Certificate and Scope Document
Accredited through: January 12, 2011
__________________________________________________________________
Forensic Analytical Sciences, Inc.
3777 Depot Road, Suite 403
Hayward, CA 94545
Accreditation Certificate and Scope Document
Accredited through: March 28, 2010
__________________________________________________________________
Fresno County Sheriff’s Department
1256 Divisadero
Fresno, CA 93721
Accreditation Certificate and Scope Document
Accredited through: December 24, 2010
__________________________________________________________________
Georgia Bureau of Investigation - Headquarters (Atlanta)
3121 Panthersville Rd.
Decatur, GA 30034
Accreditation Certificate and Scope Document
Accredited through: February 28, 2011
____________________________________________________________________
Georgia Bureau of Investigation - Eastern Regional Laboratory (Augusta)
1945 Phinizy Rd.
Augusta, GA 30906
Accreditation Certificate and Scope Document
Accredited through: February 28, 2011
____________________________________________________________________
Georgia Bureau of Investigation - Northeastern Regional Laboratory (Cleveland)
77 Cobb Vantress Drive.
Cleveland, GA 30528
Accreditation Certificate and Scope Document
Accredited through: February 28, 2011
____________________________________________________________________
Georgia Bureau of Investigation - Western Regional Laboratory (Columbus)
8375 Beaver Run Road
Midland, GA 31820
Accreditation Certificate and Scope Document
Accredited through:February 28, 2011
____________________________________________________________________
Georgia Bureau of Investigation - Central Regional Laboratory (Macon)
5615 Riggins Mill Road
Dry Branch, GA 31020
Accreditation Certificate and Scope Document
Accredited through: February 28, 2011
____________________________________________________________________
Georgia Bureau of Investigation - Southwestern Regional Laboratory (Moultrie)
330 N. East Bypass
Moultrie, GA 31788
Accreditation Certificate and Scope Document
Accredited through: February 28, 2011
____________________________________________________________________
Georgia Bureau of Investigation - Coastal Regional Laboratory (Savannah)
925-A Mohawk Street
Savannah, GA 31419
Accreditation Certificate and Scope Document
Accredited through: February 28, 2011
____________________________________________________________________
Georgia Bureau of Investigation - Northwestern Regional Laboratory (Summerville)
533 Underwood Drive
Trion, GA 30753
Accreditation Certificate and Scope Document
Accredited through: February 28, 2011
____________________________________________________________________
Genetica DNA Laboratories, Inc.
8740 Montgomery Road
Cincinnati , OH 45236
Accreditation Certificate and Scope Document
Accredited through: June 28, 2010
____________________________________________________________________
Genquest.
133 Coney Island Drive
Las Vegas, NV 89431
Accreditation Certificate and Scope Document
Accredited through: January 15, 2014
____________________________________________________________________
Honolulu Police Department
Scientific Investigation Section
801 So. Beretania Street
Honolulu, HI 96813
Accreditation Certificate and Scope Document
Accredited through: April 05, 2012
____________________________________________________________________
Identity Genetics
801 32 nd Ave.
Brookings, SD 57006
Accreditation Certificate and Scope Document
Accredited through: April 27, 2012
____________________________________________________________________
Independent Forensics
4600 Roosevelt Road
Suite 201
Hillside, IL 60162
Accreditation Certificate and Scope Document
Accredited through: January 28, 2014
____________________________________________________________________
Illinois State Police - Forensic Sciences Command

Illinois State Police
Forensic Sciences Command Headquarters
801 S. 7th Street, Suite 900A
Post Office Box 19461
Springfield, IL 62794-9461
Accreditation Certificate
Scope: See Scopes of Individual ISP Laboratories
Accredited through: October 1, 2011
____________________________________________________________________
Illinois State Police - Chicago
Forensic Science Center at Chicago
Illinois State Police, Division of Forensic Services
Forensic Sciences Command
1941 West Roosevelt Road
Chicago, Illinois 60608
Branch Laboratory:
10001 Roosevelt Road
Westchester, Illinois 60154
Accreditation Certificate and Scope Document
Accredited through: October 1, 2011
____________________________________________________________________
Illinois State Police - Joliet
Joliet Forensic Science Laboratory
Illinois State Police, Division of Forensic Services
Forensic Sciences Command
515 East Woodruff Road
Joliet, Illinois 60432
Accreditation Certificate and Scope Document
Accredited through: October 1, 2011
____________________________________________________________________
Illinois State Police - Metro East
Illinois State Police, Division of Forensic Services
Forensic Sciences Command
10023 Bunkum Road
Fairview Heights, Illinois 62208
Accreditation Certificate and Scope Document
Accredited through: October 1, 2011
____________________________________________________________________
Illinois State Police - Morton
Morton Forensic Science Laboratory
Illinois State Police, Division of Forensic Services
Forensic Sciences Command
1810 South Main
Morton, Illinois 61550
Accreditation Certificate and Scope Document
Accredited through: October 1, 2011
____________________________________________________________________
Illinois State Police - Research & Development
Research and Development Laboratory
Illinois State Police, Division of Forensic Services
Forensic Sciences Command
2060 Hill Meadows Drive
Springfield, Illinois 62702
Accreditation Certificate and Scope Document
Accredited through: October 1, 2011
____________________________________________________________________
Illinois State Police - Rockford
Rockford Forensic Science Laboratory
Illinois State Police, Division of Forensic Services
Forensic Sciences Command
200 South Wynman Street, Suite 400
Rockford, Illinois 61101
Accreditation Certificate and Scope Document
Accredited through: October 1, 2011
____________________________________________________________________
Illinois State Police - Southern Illinois
Southern Illinois Forensic Science Centre
Illinois State Police, Division of Forensic Services
Forensic Sciences Command
606 East College Street
Carbondale, Illinois 62901
Accreditation Certificate and Scope Document
Accredited through: October 1, 2011
____________________________________________________________________
Illinois State Police - Springfield
Springfield Forensic Science Laboratory
Illinois State Police, Division of Forensic Services
Forensic Sciences Command
2040 and 2060 Hill Meadows Drive / 3710 East Lake Shore Drive
Springfield, Illinois 62702
Accreditation Certificate and Scope Document
Accredited through: October 1, 2011
_____________________________________________________________________
Laboratory Corporation of America
1440 York Court Extension
Burlington, NC 27215
Accreditation Certificate and Scope Document
Accredited through: September 24, 2013
____________________________________________________________________
Marshall University Forensic DNA Laboratory
Forensic Science Center - CODIS Laboratory
1401 Forensic Science Drive
Huntington, WV 25701-3628
Accreditation Certificate and Scope Document
Accredited through: February 6, 2012
____________________________________________________________________
Maxxam Analytics, Inc.
335 Laird Road, Unit 4
Guelph, Ontario N1H6J3
Canada
Accreditation Certificate and Scope Document
Accredited through: November 19, 2011
____________________________________________________________________
Midwest Research Laboratory, Florida Division
1470 Treeland Blvd SE
Palm Bay, FL 32909
Accreditation Certificate and Scope Document
Accredited through: December 31, 2010
____________________________________________________________________
North Dakota State University
North Dakota State University Forensic DNA Facility
IACC Building, Room 326
1320 Albrecht Blvd.
Fargo, ND 58105
Accreditation Certificate and Scope Document
Accredited through: September 24, 2010
____________________________________________________________________
Orchid Cellmark (Nashville)
1400 Donnelson Pike A15
Nashville, TN 37217
Accreditation Certificate and Scope Document
Accredited through: May 15, 2012
____________________________________________________________________
Orchid Cellmark (Dallas)
13988 Diplomat Drive, Suite 100, Farmers Branch, TX 75234
Accreditation Certificate and Scope Document
Accredited through: July 24, 2013
____________________________________________________________________
Paternity Testing Corporation
3501 Berrywood Drive
Columbia, MO 65201
Accreditation Certificate and Scope Document
Accredited through: December 1, 2010
____________________________________________________________________
Philadelphia Police Department
Forensic Science Bureau
843-848 N. 8 th St .
Philadelphia , PA 19123
Accreditation Certificate and Scope Document
Accredited through: September 27, 2010
____________________________________________________________________
Phoenix Police Department Crime Scene Investigations Unit
621 W. Washington
Phoenix, AZ 85003
Accreditation Certificate and Scope Document
Accredited through: April 1, 2011
____________________________________________________________________
Rhode Island Department of Health Forensic Sciences Laboratory
50 Orms St.
Providence, RI 02904
Accreditation Certificate and Scope Document
Accredited through: December 31, 2010
____________________________________________________________________
Rhode Island State Crime Laboratory
220 Fogarty Hall
University of Rhode Island
41 Lower College Road
Kingston , RI 02881
Accreditation Certificate and Scope Document
Accredited through: April 9, 2011
____________________________________________________________________
South Dakota State Forensic Laboratory
1302 East Highway 14, Suite 6
Pierre, SD 57501
Accreditation Certificate and Scope Document
Accredited through: January 17, 2011
____________________________________________________________________
Strand Analytical Laboratories
5770 Decatur Blvd.
Suite 3
Indianapolis, IN 46241
Accreditation Certificate and Scope Document
Accredited through: March 15, 2010
___________________________________________________________________
Trinity DNA Solutions
5697 Industrial Blvd.
Milton, FL 32583
Accreditation Certificate and Scope Document
Accredited through: October 22, 2010
___________________________________________________________________
UNT Center for Human Identification
3500 Camp Bowie, EAD 334
Ft. Worth, TX 76107
Accreditation Certificate and Scope Document
Accredited through: December 31, 2010
___________________________________________________________________
U.S. EPA National Enforcement Investigations Center
P.O. Box 25227-Bldg 25-Denver Federal Center
Denver, Colorado 80225
Barbara A. Hughes, QA Coordinator
Accreditation: ISO / IEC 17025 and Field Specific Criteria covering forensic environmental investigations.
Accreditation Certificate and Scope Document and Annex A: Forensic Requirements for Accreditation - NEIC
Accredited through: April 1, 2011
___________________________________________________________________
Worcester Police Department
9 - 11 Lincoln Square
Worcester, MA 01608
Accreditation Certificate and Scope Document
Accredited through: August 4, 2013
___________________________________________________________________

Back to Top

Suspensions and Withdrawals of Accreditation

Suspensions

None Current

Withdrawals of Accreditation

The removal by FQS-I of all or part of an accredited organization's accreditation. Partial withdrawal may apply where an accredited organization is accredited specifically for tests, products, or registration scopes that may be treated individually for accreditation purposes.

Laboratory: Boston University School of Medicine-Center for Human Genetics
Certificate No. 05-TR-12
City, State: Boston, MA
Effective Date: 09-06- 2006
Category(s): DNA Accreditation (Convicted Offender Databasing)

Laboratory: Forensic Testing Laboratories, Inc.
Certificate No. 08-FQS-I-05
City, State: La Cruces, NM
Effective Date: 03-09-2009
Category(s): Biology

Voluntary Withdrawal of Accreditation

The voluntary termination of a laboratory's accreditation via written notice to FQS-I for reasons such as cessation of business operations.

Laboratory: Detroit PD
Certificate No. 06-FQS-I-09
City, State: Detroit, MI
Effective Date: 09-26-2008
Category(s): Biology

Laboratory: Spencer Laboratories
Certificate No. 05-TR-11
City, State: Santa Ana, CA
Effective Date 04-14-2006
Category(s) Biology

Laboratory: Myriad Genetics Laboratory
Certificate No. 06-FQS-I-05
City, State: Salt Lake City, UT
Effective Date: 01-15-2007
Category(s:) Biology

Laboratory: BRT Laboratories
Certificate No. 06-FQS-I-16
City, State: Baltimore, MD
Effective Date: 12-01-2008
Category(s): Biology

Laboratory: Sorenson Genomics (dba Identigene- Salt Lake City; dba Sorenson Forensic Serices)
Certificate No. 06-FQS-I-14
City, State: Salt Lake City, UT 84115
Effective Date: 10-5-2008
Category(s): Biology

Proficiency Testing

FQS-I’s proficiency test policy is shown in its policy document FRAP-2 available on request. Successful completion of proficiency testing is required and suitable external providers should be used wherever possible. A list of currently recognized PT providers is given below.

Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Proficiency Testing Program for Forensic Equine Drug Testing
1130 Morrison Drive, Suite 100
Ottawa, Ontario K2H9N6
Phone: (613) 949-0744
Fax: (613) 949-1538
astevson@agr.gc.ca
Tests: Equine toxicology. See Standards Council of Canada (SCC) scope of accreditation for proficiency testing at http://palcan.scc.ca/specs/pdf/564_e.pdf

Collaborative Testing Services, Inc. (CTS)
21331 Gentry Drive
Sterling, VA 20166
Phone: (571) 434-1925
Fax: (571) 434-1937
info@cts-interlab.com
Tests: Controlled substances, crime scene (bloodstain pattern), serology, DNA, firearms, toolmarks, imprint/impression evidence, fibers, latent prints, paint, glass, flammables (fire debris), questioned documents, and toxicology (blood/alcohol).

College of American Pathologists (CAP)
325 Waukegan Rd
Northfield, IL 60093-2750
Phone: (800) 323-4040
Fax: (847) 832-8166
serdev@cap.org
Tests: DNA (DNA, DNAF, FID, and FIDM) and toxicology (AL1-alcohol whole blood and FTC-forensic toxicology criminalistics)

Creative Approaches to Teaching, Training & Testing, Inc. (CAT3)
11605 Deer Forest Road
Reston, VA 20194
Phone/Fax: (630) 545-1264
service@cat3.org
Tests: Crime Scene (Interactive CD)

Digital Forensics Quality Solutions
National Center for Forensic Science
University of Central Florida
Orlando , FL
Phone: 407 823-6469 (Carrie Whitcomb)
Fax: 407-823-3162
www.dfqs.org
Tests: Computer forensics

Environmental Resource Associates (ERA)
6000 W. 54th Avenue
Arvada, Colorado 80002
Phone: 1-800-372-0122
http://www.eraqc.com/
Tests: Water pollution, water supply, soil/hazardous waste, underground storage tank, microbiology, radiochemistry. All studies comply with all applicable USEPA, NELAC, A2LA, NIST/NVLAP and state specific requirements.

Forensic Testing Services
1099 W. Grand River Avenue
P.O. Box 514
Williamston , MI 48895
Phone (517)202-5971
Fax (517)579-4847
www.forensic-testing.net
Tests: Explosives, GSR, microscopic hair examination, tape, bulb examination for on/off, and chemical unknowns

National Institute of Forensic Science
2 Research Avenue, Suite 1, R & D Park CentreSuite 1
Bundoora, Victoria, 3083 Australia
Phone: +61 3 9459 4299
Fax: +61 3 9457 3622
atf@nifs.com.au
Tests: Crime Scene (Interactive CD)Orchid Cellmark
5698 Springboro Pike
Dayton, OH 45449
Phone: (800) 443-2383
Fax: (301) 428-4877
clientservices@orchid.com
Tests: DNA and serology

Serological Research Institute
3053 Research Drive
Richmond, CA 94806
Phone: (510) 223-7374
Fax: (510) 222-8887
serimain@serological.com
Tests: DNA, serology

Back to TopLogos and Symbols

The graphic shown below left is the FQS-I logo. It identifies “Forensic Accreditation” as the overall scope of our business. The logo can only be used by FQS-I. However, most customers like to have a graphic that conveys their accreditation status that they can use in promotional material and on reports. This is known as an “Accreditation symbol” and the graphic is made available by FQS-I to all our accredited laboratories. Conditions on use of the symbol are described below.

The graphic on the right below is a copy of the FQS-I accreditation symbol.


(Above) FQS-I Logo	(Above) FQS-I accreditation symbol

Use of the FQS-I accreditation symbolThe use of the FQS-I accreditation symbol by FQS-I accredited organizations is voluntary, but it provides an easy and effective way for our customers to promote their accreditation status to their customers. We do, however, request that accredited organizations follow these requirements:It may only be used by the accredited organization - not subcontractors or related agencies (including satellite or branch laboratories that are not accredited)It can only be used on certificates that report on activities covered by the organization’s scope of accreditationCustomers are asked to protect the integrity and value of the symbol: do not make it available to any other agencyFQS-I monitors websites and promotional materials for unauthorized use of the accreditation symbol and acts on all such instancesThe Fine PrintThe full conditions of use of the use of the FQS-I logo and accreditation symbol are based on the requirements of ILAC P8: 07/2006 and can be found in FQS policy document FRAP-5, available on request.

Home	Back to Top