By Rebecca Bailey
FAPC Communications Services Graduate Assistant

(Stillwater, Okla. – April 18, 2013) An Oklahoma State University analytical services laboratory continues to be recognized by the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) to serve the needs of the Oklahoma food industry.

The Robert M. Kerr Food & Agricultural Products Center Analytical Services’ accreditation was continued by A2LA in the chemical field of testing. It first received accreditation in June 2009, making it a more distinguished laboratory resulting in a more appealing location for FAPC clients.

“This prestigious accreditation enhances credibility for FAPC Analytical Services and allows us the opportunity to provide the same quality services as always; but, with the recognition from A2LA, FAPC clients are provided with the assurance of the quality of services,” said Guadalupe Davila El-Rassi, FAPC analytical services manager. “We believe the continuing accreditation will serve as a catalysis to continue to broaden and promote our services to clients across the state of Oklahoma.”

El-Rassi said the Analytical Services’ team has continued to successfully implement the ISO 17025 requirements in daily laboratory operations to maintain its accreditation status. Although it is a rigorous challenge, the team possesses the necessary skills to meet both the technical competence and management system requirements.

FAPC Analytical Services is accredited to the International Organization for Standardization 17025:2005 based on internationally accepted criteria for technical competence and management system requirements necessary to consistently deliver valid test results. The certificate and the scope of accreditation can be found in the database of accredited laboratories at www.a2la.org/scopepdf/2790-01.pdf.

“It is hard work, but we are enthusiastic, and we are very proud of the success of our team,” said Veneta Banskalieva, senior research specialist for the FAPC Analytical Services Laboratory.

According to FAPC Analytical Services, very few laboratories in the state have been accredited by A2LA.

“There are only two other chemical testing laboratories in Oklahoma that have been accredited by A2LA, and we are the only A2LA accredited university laboratory in the state,” said Angie Lathrop, FAPC Analytical Services Laboratory senior research specialist. “There may be labs in Oklahoma that obtained their ISO 17025 accreditation from another organization. However, according to research, I only found one other university in the U.S. that has an accredited chemical laboratory through A2LA.”

The accreditation scope granted is to perform the following tests on food, dairy and plant products. These tests include percent moisture/loss on drying; percent ash; determination of crude protein by Leco Combustion Method; percent fat of meat, animal feeds, grains, plant tissues, butter and margarine, yogurt, and nuts and seeds by Soxtec; and percent carbohydrates by subtraction.

“The food industry in Oklahoma is progressive and demands service providers be third-party accredited,” said Roy Escoubas, FAPC director. “The ISO is an international gold-standard accreditation, and our ISO accreditation for analytical services allows the FAPC to best serve our Oklahoma food industry clients.”

This accreditation is valid until Feb. 28, 2015, upon which it can be renewed again.

For more information about FAPC Analytical Services, please visit www.fapc.biz.

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Oklahoma State University is a modern land-grant system of interdisciplinary programs that prepares students for success. OSU is America’s Brightest Orange. Through leadership and service, OSU is preparing students for a bright future and building a brighter world for all. As Oklahoma’s only university with a statewide presence, OSU improves the lives of people in Oklahoma, the nation and the world through integrated, high-quality teaching, research and outreach. OSU has more than 36,000 students across its five-campus system and more than 24,000 on its combined Stillwater and Tulsa campuses, with students from all 50 states and around 120 nations. Established in 1890, OSU has graduated more than 245,000 students to serve Oklahoma, the nation and the world.