Quality Control measures in the CVRVV Laboratory are being applied to all of the following:

• Premises and environment

  The Laboratory has been applying the highest standards of safety during analyses to safeguard its staff and premises.

  With this in view, it has:

  1. built a properly ventilated warehouse with a fire-resistant door for storing corrosive, toxic and inflammable products and reagents;
  2. duly sign-posted emergency exits;
  3. created a butane gas network;
  4. redesigned the existing gas distribution centre, separated the different gases and placed a fire-resistant door on the inside;
  5. sign-posted exits and fire-extinguishers;
  6. held in-house safety training courses.

• Equipment

  All the measuring and test equipment of the Laboratory is listed, numbered and recorded in an individual folder containing all documents pertaining to each item.

  All major measuring and testing equipment has been calibrated important (internal and externally).

• Validation (of results and methods)

  The Laboratory has been statistically validating its results from standard tests and its in-house methods by means of data processing methods developed according to existing standards.

• Logistics

  All Laboratory filing procedures have been reviewed and updated, including the existing archives, so as to improve efficiency and the quality of in-house work.

• Computer Systems

  The whole circuit, from sampling to the issuing of Test Reports is now computer processed, in order to better respond to the Laboratory's clients.

• Handling of Samples

  In order to ensure that tests results are even more objective, a special circuit has been created to ensure that each sample's identification remains fully confidential.

• Confidentiality, Integrity and Impartiality

  Everyone working in the Laboratory is required to sign a confidentiality, integrity and impartiality statement.

• Cooperation between Laboratories

  The Laboratory works in close cooperation with other institutions with the view to improving the quality of its result.

• Training

  Several in-house and external training programmes have been held with a view to updating and motivating everyone working in the Laboratory, according to an annual training programme directed at responding to the Laboratory's needs.