Although industry conferences are looking very different these days, A2LA has continued to find ways to connect with customers and share information with others in the accreditation industry. For Pittcon 2021, in addition to a virtual booth, A2LA experts will be presenting four different informational sessions throughout the conference. We have identified topics of interest among our customers throughout the last several months and are eager to provide helpful insider perspectives. If you will be virtually attending Pittcon March 8-12th, please join us at any of the following four sessions, or visit our virtual booth for a one-on-one conversation our accreditation professionals.
A2LA’s Role in Ensuring a Successful Transition to the 2016 TNI Standard for California’s Environmental Testing Laboratories
Presented by Julie Keyser
Session L55-01, Fri. March 12 1:30 PM – 1:50 PM EST
Accreditation Specialist Julie Keyser, A2LA’s expert on the California ELAP program, provides an overview of the recent updates to the California ELAP program and how participating laboratories will be affected. Many California environmental labs will experience changes to their operations and will be assessed differently under this new program, so fully understanding these changes is crucial. As a third-party assessment provider, A2LA actively participated in California’s regulation proposal process and has been involved in helping to shape these changes. Julie’s detailed understanding of the 2016 TNI Standard and this specific program provide helpful insight on what labs need to know.
Testing Regulations in the Cannabis Industry
Presented by Renee Delauter
Session L30-06, Wed. March 10 3:25 PM – 3:45 PM EST
Accreditation Officer Renee Delauter, part of A2LA’s dedicated cannabis accreditation team, discusses current testing regulations and guidelines in the cannabis industry, and how to understand the rapidly evolving regulatory landscape. This session will broadly cover federal cannabis requirements, the many different state requirements, and how regulations differ in relation to different cannabis products such as hemp and marijuana. It will also examine the role of ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation as a part of the testing laboratory licensing process, as well as the benefits of ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation in the cannabis industry.
The Importance and Challenges of Proficiency Testing Providers and Reference Material Producers in the Cannabis Industry
Presented by Sennett Kim and Scott Poore
Session L53-02, Fri. March 12 1:50 PM – 2:10 PM EST
A2LA accreditation professionals Sennett Kim and Scott Poore share their insight on the crucial role of quality proficiency testing providers (PTPs) and reference material producers (RMPs) in the cannabis industry, and how the shortage of accredited PTPs and RMPs can impact cannabis testing labs. They go over the challenges associated with finding these quality PTPs and RMPs in the fast-growing cannabis industry and the many benefits that accredited reference materials and proficiency testing provide. They also provide some general information on ISO/IEC 17043 and ISO 17034, the standards used to accredit proficiency testing providers and reference material producers.
Successes and Challenges of Assessing and Accrediting PFAS
Presented by Nicholas Slawson
Session L55-07, Fri. March 12 3:45 – 4:05 PM EST
Since 2018, PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) have become the most researched group of emerging contaminants. In this session, A2LA Senior Accreditation Officer Nicholas Slawson discusses the unique challenges associated with gaining accreditation and assessing against the published methods for PFAS compounds, as well as the established requirements and regulations. A2LA has found success accrediting labs that conduct PFAS testing to ISO/IEC 17025 and other regulatory standards, despite the wide variety of compounds within this group, the low equipment detection limits, and the lack of appropriate standard availability. In his presentation he shares A2LA’s experience with these labs and drives discussion on challenges and successes in this field.
A2LA’s accreditation experts are always eager to share their knowledge and we encourage those curious about these topics to engage with us at Pittcon. To connect with one of our accreditation experts please reach out to our Customer Care team. These short presentations are a great way to prompt discussion and provide new perspectives. We look forward to virtually meeting you at Pittcon 2021!