GOVPH

The Department of Science and Technology Region XI’s (DOST XI) Regional Standards and Testing Laboratory Davao (RSTL-Davao) has added another feather to its cap as it earned the latest ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation for its Microbiology and Chemistry Laboratories.

 The Philippine Accreditation Bureau (PAB) - Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) officially granted the RSTL-Davao continued accreditation based on ISO/IEC 17025:2017 last 24 June 2020. The accreditation is valid until 03 May 2023 for Chemical Testing and 04 April 2023 for Biological Testing.

Likewise, new scopes and newly approved signatories are granted in the fields of Chemical and Halal Testing.

DOST XI Regional Director Dr. Anthony C. Sales, CESO III said the successful transition of the Quality Management System of the DOST XI RSTL to 2017 version of the ISO/IEC 17025 standard is considered a milestone in the history of the Davao RSTL.

 “As a public sector organization, we continuously strive to improve the management and operation of our laboratories to comply with the highest standards and provide excellent service to our customers. We shall continue to work towards attaining an ascendant and strategic position as a benchmark for other laboratories in the country and abroad,” Director Sales said.

Among other DOST Laboratories, RSTL-Davao was the first to apply for the transition of its ISO/IEC 17025 under the 2017 standard and was also the first to be audited by DTI-PAB last July 10-12, 2019.

Currently, RSTL-Davao offers various laboratory services in food and beverage, water and wastewater, and environmental samples. It also accepts the testing of alcohol-based sanitizers and disinfectants to address the proliferation of adulterated, mislabeled, and unlabeled products in the market. Meanwhile, its Metrology Laboratory, which offers calibration services, is still waiting for the final evaluation of DTI-PAB to continue its accreditation under ISO/IEC 17025:2017 standard.