**13.0 Calibration Certificates and Test Reports**

13.1 The laboratory provides the client with reports of tests that,
prior to final signing by the approved signatories responsible for the
validity of the results, are reviewed to correct inconsistencies in the
report, supporting data, and calculations (see Section 12, Records for
location of calibration and test reports).

13.2 The laboratory follows NIST HB 150, Sec. 285.8 for policy regarding
the use of the NVLAP logo, if accredited by NVLAP. The NVLAP logo is
used on calibration and test reports and is accompanied by \"Accredited
by the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program for the
specific scope of accreditation under Lab Code XXXX,\" if the laboratory
is accredited for that parameter, range, and scope.

13.3 Calibration certificates and test reports include the following
information:

> 13.3.1 A report title;
>
> 13.3.2 Name and address of the laboratory, and location where the test
> was conducted if different from the laboratory;
>
> 13.3.3 Unique report number on every page of each report which shows
> the total number of pages of the report;
>
> 13.3.4 Name and address of client;
>
> 13.3.5 Item identification including: description, manufacturer,
> model, and serial number (where available);
>
> 13.3.6 Calibration date;
>
> 13.3.7 Condition and characterization of the item (where relevant);
>
> 13.3.8 Identification of the test method used;

9.  Deviations, additions, or exclusions to the test method and other
    relevant information including environmental conditions existing
    during test (when applicable);

> 13.3.10 Tables, graphs, and other supporting information when
> necessary for the interpretation of the report;
>
> 13.3.11 Measurement results, calibration values, a statement of
> uncertainty, and, where appropriate, accuracy and tolerance
> conformity;
>
> 13.3.12 Date of issue and signature of the technical manager,
> metrologist, or other official who accepts responsibility for the
> validity of the results and the content of the report;
>
> 13.3.13 Where relevant, a statement that the report relates only to
> the items listed in the report \"at the time of test\";
>
> 13.3.14 Clear identification of reported results of calibrations or
> test if performed by subcontractors;
>
> 13.3.15 Reference to sampling procedures where relevant;
>
> 13.3.16 A statement that the certificate shall not be reproduced
> except in full, without the written approval of the laboratory;
>
> 13.3.17 Statement that the client shall not use the report to claim
> endorsement by NIST, OWM, NVLAP or any agency of the U.S. Government;
>
> 13.3.18 Signature of an approved signatory for all test and
> calibration reports endorsed with the accreditation status or NVLAP
> logo (see Section 12 Records, List of Approved Signatories);
>
> 13.3.19 Special limitations of use; and
>
> 13.3.20 Traceability statement.

13.4 The laboratory notifies its customers in writing of any events
which cast doubt on the validity of the results given in any calibration
report or amendment to a report.

5.  Amendments to calibration certificates and test reports after issue
    are made in the form of a further document or data transfer that
    includes the statement \"Supplement to Calibration Certificate \[or
    Test Report\]\". Records of these documents are maintained by the
    laboratory staff and located in the laboratory files (see Section
    12, \"Records\", Calibration and Test Reports/Supplements to
    Calibration and Test Reports).

**17025**

**4.9 Control of nonconforming testing and/or calibration work**

**4.9.1** The laboratory shall have a policy and procedures that shall
be implemented when any aspect of its testing and/or calibration work,
or the results of this work, do not conform with its own procedures or
the agreed requirements of the client. The policy and procedures shall
ensure that:

a\) responsibilities and authorities for the management of nonconforming
work are designated and actions (including halting of work and
withholding of test reports and calibration certificates as necessary)
are defined and taken when nonconforming work is identified;

b\) an evaluation of the significance of the nonconforming work is made;

c\) remedial actions are taken immediately, together with any decision
about the acceptability of the nonconforming work;

d\) where necessary, the client is notified and work is recalled;

e\) the responsibility for authorizing the resumption of work is
defined.

**NOTE** Identification of nonconforming work or problems with the
quality system or with testing and/or calibration activities can occur
at various places within the quality system and technical operations.
Customer complaints, quality control, instrument calibration, checking
of consumable materials, staff observations or supervision, test report
and calibration certificate checking, management reviews and internal or
external audits are examples.

2.  Where the evaluation indicates that the nonconforming work could
    recur or that there is doubt about the compliance of the
    laboratory\'s operations with its own policies and procedures, the
    corrective action procedures given in 4.10 shall be promptly
    followed.

**5.10 Reporting the results**

**5.10.1 General**

The results of each test, calibration, or series of tests or
calibrations carried out by the laboratory shall be reported accurately,
clearly, unambiguously and objectively, and in accordance with any
specific instructions in the test or calibration methods.

The results shall be reported, normally in a test report or a
calibration certificate (see note 1) and shall include all the
information requested by the client and necessary for the interpretation
of the test or calibration results and all information required by the
method used. This information is normally that required by 5.10.2, and
5.10.3 or 5.10.4.

In the case of tests or calibrations performed for internal clients, or
in the case of a written agreement with the client, the results may be
reported in a simplified way. The information listed in 5.10.2 to
5.10.4, which is not reported to the client, shall be readily available
in the laboratory which carried out the tests and/or calibrations.

**NOTE 1** Test reports and calibration certificates are sometimes
called test certificates and calibration reports, respectively.

**NOTE 2** The test reports or calibration certificates may be issued as
hard copy or by electronic data transfer provided that the requirements
of this International Standard are met.

**5.10.2 Test reports and calibration certificates**

Each test report or calibration certificate shall include at least the
following information, unless the laboratory has valid reasons for not
doing so:

a\) a title (e.g. \"Test Report\" or \"Calibration Certificate\");

b\) name and address of laboratory, and location where the tests and/or
calibrations were carried out if different from the address of the
laboratory;

c\) unique identification of the test report or calibration certificate
(such as the serial number), and on each page an identification in order
to ensure that the page is recognized as a part of the test report or
calibration certificate, and a clear identification of the end of the
test report or calibration certificate;

> **NOTE** Hard copies of test reports and calibration certificates
> should also include the page number and total number of pages.

d\) name and address of the client;

e)  identification of the method used;

f)  description, condition and unambiguous identification of the item(s)
    tested or calibrated;

g)  date of receipt of test or calibration item(s) where critical to the
    validity and application of the results and date(s) of performance
    of the test or calibration;

h\) reference to sampling plan and procedures used by the laboratory or
other bodies where these are relevant to the validity or application of
the results;

i\) test or calibration results with, where appropriate, the units of
measurement;

j\) the name(s), function(s) and signature(s) or equivalent
identification of person(s) authorizing the test report or calibration
certificate;

k\) where relevant, a statement to the effect that the results relate
only to the items tested or calibrated.

**NOTE** It is recommended that laboratories include a statement
specifying that the test report or calibration certificate shall not be
reproduced except in full, without written approval of the laboratory.

**5.10.3 Test reports**

**5.10.3.1** In addition to the requirements listed in 5.10.2, test
reports shall, where necessary for the interpretation of the test
results, include:

a\) deviations from, additions to or exclusions from the test method,
and information on specific test conditions, such as environmental
conditions;

b\) where relevant, a statement of compliance/non compliance with
requirements and/or specifications;

c\) where applicable, a statement on the estimated uncertainty of
measurement; information on uncertainty is needed in test reports when
it is relevant to the validity or application of the test results, when
a client\'s instruction so requires, or when uncertainty affects
compliance to a specification limit;

d\) where appropriate and needed opinions and interpretations (see
5.10.5);

e\) additional information which may be required by specific methods,
clients or groups of clients.

**5.10.3.2** In addition to the requirements listed in 5.10.2 and
5.10.3.1, test reports containing the results of sampling shall include
the following, where necessary for the interpretation of test results:

a\) date of sampling;

b\) unambiguous identification of substance, material or product sampled
(including name of manufacturer, model or type of designation and serial
numbers as appropriate);

c\) location of sampling, including any diagrams, sketches or
photographs;

d\) reference to sampling plan and procedures used;

e\) details of any environmental condition during sampling that may
affect the interpretation of the test results;

f\) any standard or other specification for the sampling method or
procedure, and deviations, additions to or exclusions from the
specification concerned.

**5.10.4 Calibration certificates**

**5.10.4.1** In addition to the requirements listed in 5.10.2,
calibration certificates shall include the following, where necessary
for the interpretation of calibration results:

a\) the conditions (e.g. environmental) under which the calibrations
were made that have an influence on the measurement results;

b\) the uncertainty of measurement and/or a statement of compliance with
an identified metrological specification or clauses thereof;

c\) evidence that the measurements are traceable (see 5.6.2.1.1. note
1).

**5.10.4.2** The calibration certificate shall relate only to quantities
and the results of functional tests and, if a statement of compliance
with a specification is made, it shall identify which clauses of the
specification are met or not met.

When a statement of compliance with a specification is made omitting the
measurement results and associated uncertainties, the laboratory shall
record those results and maintain them for possible future reference.

When statements of compliance are made, the uncertainty of measurement
shall be taken into account.

**5.10.4.3** When an instrument for calibration has been adjusted or
repaired, the calibration results before and after adjustment or repair,
if available, shall be reported.

**5.10.4.4** A calibration certificate (or calibration label) shall not
contain any recommendation on the calibration interval except where this
has been agreed with the client. This requirement may be superseded by
legal regulations.

**5.10.5 Opinions and interpretations**

When opinions and interpretations are included, the laboratory shall
document the basis upon which the opinions and interpretations have been
made. Opinions and interpretations shall be clearly marked as such in a
test report.

**NOTE 1** Opinions and interpretations should not be mixed with
inspections and product certifications as intended in ISO/IEC 17020 and
ISO/IEC Guide 65.

**NOTE 2** Opinions and interpretations included in a test report may
comprise, but not be limited, to the following:

\- opinion on the statement of conformity of the results with
requirements;

\- fulfilment of contractual requirements;

\- recommendations on how to use the results;

\- guidance to be used for improvements.

**NOTE 3** In many cases it might be appropriate to communicate the
opinions and interpretations by direct dialogue with the client. Such
dialogue should be written down.

**5.10.6 Testing and calibration results obtained from subcontractors**

When the test report contains results of tests performed by
subcontractors, these results shall be clearly identified. The
subcontractor shall report the results in writing or electronically.

When a calibration has been subcontracted, the laboratory performing the
work shall issue the calibration certificate to the contracting
laboratory.

**5.10.7 Electronic transmission of results**

In the case of transmission of test or calibration results by telephone,
telex, facsimile or other electronic or electromagnetic means, the
requirements of this International Standard shall be met (see also
5.4.7).

**5.10.8 Format of reports and certificates**

The format shall be designed to accommodate each type of test or
calibration carried out and to minimize the possibility of
misunderstanding or misuse.

**NOTE 1** Attention should be given to the lay-out of the test report
or calibration certificate, especially with regard to the presentation
of the test or calibration data and ease of assimilation by the reader.

**NOTE 2** The headings should be standardized as far as possible.

**5.10.9 Amendments to test reports and calibration certificates**

Material amendments to a test report or calibration certificate after
issue shall be made only in the form of a further document, or data
transfer, which includes the statement \"Supplement to Test Report \[or
Calibration Certificate\], serial number\...\[or as otherwise
identified\]\", or an equivalent form of wording. Such amendments shall
meet all the requirements of this International Standard.

When it is necessary to issue a complete new test report or calibration
certificate, it shall be uniquely identified and shall contain a
reference to the original that it replaces.