General information
Here you can find some general information about our Proficiency Testing Schemes.
PTP is ISO 17043 accredited since 2009 - Accreditation number N° 1-2466
Click here to view our certificate of accreditation with the corresponding scope of accreditation on the COFRAC website.
Detailed scope available on request.
The yearly proficiency testing programs are defined by “The Sponsors” and PTP. The definition will include as a minimum the following:
- Materials to be tested
- Tests to be performed
- Test conditions
- Characteristics to be measured
The laboratories that are required to participate are identified by "The Sponsors".
The following activities are subcontracted by PTP: cutting, preparation of samples, packaging of certain kits; homogeneity and stability tests; website development. Manufacturing and homogeneity/stability testing subcontracting is assigned to a competent subcontractor, monitored and evaluated by PTP.
At the launch of a scheme an email is sent to all participants informing them of the program schedule, and of the test kits that will be proposed.
To order your test kits, please click on the relevant scheme page (ie Metallic or Composite) to see all of the available kits. You can then add the required kits to your basket and proceed either by logging into the website or registering as a new user.
For each kit you select the relevant sponsor (if applicable) to allow them access to your results and reports.
Clicking on the button “get proforma invoice” will finalise the order.
Please contact your sponsor to know which kits you are required to order.
Our payment terms are in advance. You can either pay by credit card directly via the website, or by bank transfer using the bank details noted at the bottom of the proforma invoice which is automatically generated on the website.
Packages are sent via DHL within the next 10 working days, following the receipt of payment.
You will receive a notification email when the package is collected.
If after this time you have not received your package, or one of your kits is lost or damaged, please contact us directly : info@ptpscheme.com
Each specimen has to be tested following the technical instructions which are downloadable on the relevant page of the PTP website.
Please submit your results directly on the PTP website. The results forms for each kit are available in your account by clicking on the tab “Kits”. A deadline is defined for the submission of the results, which allows us to establish the statistical population by including the results received.
You still can submit your results after the deadline via your account, they will be compared to the established statistical population using the same acceptance criteria. The comparison reports are not covered by the Cofrac accreditation.
PTP collates all the data supplied by the participating laboratories and performs the analysis of the test data using the Algorithm A and Algorithm S from the ISO 13528 requirements +/- 1 & 2 SD. More information is available on request.
PTP transmits the analysed results to "The Sponsors" for validation prior to release.
An individual report is edited for each participant. In this report the following information is indicated : description of the test, classification and status of your results, associated graphs (if applicable) and results of the overall laboratories population.
A notification is sent to your email address once your report is uploaded on the PTP website.
Your report is accessible by clicking on the tab “Kits”, you can consult it at anytime .
The PTP report can be shown to your customers or auditors from any accreditation body.
Complaints regarding the evaluation of your results are accepted within the next 2 months after the availability of the PTP individual report.
Only the reports for the tests covered by the scope of accreditation include the Cofrac logo ( Comparaisons Interlaboratoires ) with the PTP accreditation number and the link of the Cofrac website.
Any reproduction of the Cofrac logo or PTP Logo is totally forbidden in any circumstances
If your report has failed, a Root Cause Analysis ticket is automatically generated. In this ticket, you need to explain the reasons for the outlier results.
Once the ticket is generated, you should submit your Root Cause Analysis within 30 days directly on the PTP website. If no RCA has been submitted after 30 days, a reminder is sent to your email address. After 45 days, an email is automatically sent to your Sponsor informing them that no RCA has been submitted.
Your RCA is reviewed by your Sponsor. It is their decision to validate and close the ticket, or to request additional tests.
The PT Scheme has been designed to guarantee optimum confidentiality by means of the following:
No commercial, financial or other pressures will be allowed by PTP.
All PTP staff involved with the control and management of the PT Scheme are totally independent of any other activity carried out within the organisation (e.g. calibration, testing, specimen manufacturing etc).
All data and information relating to the PT Scheme (including communications) is kept separate from the laboratory activities by use of a dedicated server and offices.
Participant Laboratory results and name are known only to the PTP staff, and the selected scheme sponsors thereby assuring confidentiality of the individual laboratory’s performance in the PT program.
In the exceptional circumstances, whereby a regulatory authority requires proficiency test results to be disclosed, this will be coordinated by the PTP staff and the participant(s) laboratory(s) shall be notified in writing.
The PTP activities are managed with confidentiality and impartiality by the staff.
Collusion and falsification of your PTP results are totally forbidden. In case of identification or suspicion of collusion or falsification, the laboratory will be excluded from the program and the sponsors will be immediately informed.
During your PTP order, you have the possibility to select additional samples from the same batch of material as the PTP samples for your IRR (Internal Round Robin).
Consequently for your IRR, you will not have to repeat tests for the operator and test machine already participating in the PTP scheme.
Please first select your PTP kit and the associated sponsors, then indicate the number of additional machines and operators you would like to evaluate (PTP OP & TM shall not be counted).
The IRR participation will be confidential and only the participating laboratory will have access to their own IRR data.
The IRR report will present the internal performance of your lab (technicians/operators & machines) and how these results are positioned in relation to the PTP classes.
If you have any question or comment, please contact us through the PTP website :
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