Can’t Find the Proficiency Testing Scope You Need?
Not every laboratory’s field of work fits into standard program lists. For rare analytes, unique matrices, specific concentration levels, newly validated methods, or industry-specific quality control needs, a suitable proficiency testing (PT) program may not always be available on the market.
In such cases, the solution is not to force your work into an existing program, but to create a customized proficiency testing process designed around your laboratory’s real needs—one that is technically assessable and usable as audit evidence.
Let’s Define Your Need Together
If the scope you are looking for is not included in our list, we evaluate the technical details with you—such as the analyte, matrix, method, measurement range, target uncertainty, regulatory limits, and participant structure. This way, your request does not remain simply a “program inquiry”; it is converted into a planned PT program with defined feasibility, sample preparation, statistical evaluation approach, and reporting deliverables.
When Can You Request a Customized Scope?
You can request a customized scope when:
- The analyte or parameter you work with is not included in existing programs
- The sample matrix is specific to your industry or production process
- You need to demonstrate performance at specific concentration levels close to regulatory limits
- You are validating a new method or expanding your accreditation scope
- You want to compare your laboratories across multiple locations
- You need demonstrable proficiency evidence for a specific parameter before an audit
- You operate in a niche or highly technical field where no suitable PT program is available on the market
How Is Your Request Evaluated?
Customized scope requests are assessed through a technical feasibility review. The following aspects are considered together:
- Feasibility, homogeneity, and stability of the test material
- The method for determining the assigned value
- The statistical evaluation approach to be used
- The number of participants and program structure
- Logistics, storage, and transport requirements
- Reporting format and the need for outputs suitable for use during audits
The objective is not simply to distribute samples, but to establish a proficiency testing structure that evaluates your laboratory’s performance in a reliable, traceable, and fit-for-purpose manner.
What Does It Deliver to Your Laboratory?
Creating a customized PT program for the scope you require provides your laboratory with the following advantages:
- Performance evidence suitable for accreditation and customer audits
- Test materials that more accurately reflect your routine analysis conditions
- The ability to identify deviations arising from the method, instrument, operator, or sample preparation
- Internal or multi-site laboratory comparison
- Technical data to support trend monitoring and corrective actions
- An evaluation process based on confidentiality and impartiality
If It Is Not on the Standard List, Request It
The fact that a proficiency testing scope is not included in the catalogue does not mean that it cannot be developed. A new program can be designed according to your laboratory’s needs, an existing program can be expanded, or a targeted comparison can be organized with a customized participant structure.
If you cannot find the proficiency testing scope you are looking for, submit your request to us. Our technical team will evaluate your needs and work with you to plan the most suitable program structure.
PT Nexus – Connecting Laboratories. Advancing Quality.