River Falls, Wisconsin, USA
August 7, 2012

For BioDiagnostics, Inc. (BDI), the accuracy of its seed testing results has always been the number one priority. Now its testing methods have been certified to meet the single-most important standard for testing laboratories around the world.

The western Wisconsin-based lab has earned ISO/IEC 17025:2005 accreditation, demonstrating technical competence in standard seed testing, trait purity, genetic purity, adventitious presence testing, SNP genotyping, and analytical chemistry testing services. As part of this certification, BDI maintains a rigorous proficiency testing program that demonstrates the ability to produce accurate and precise test data in all of its seven seed testing labs.

“This certification is not just a label – it’s a tool in how we do business,” said BDI Vice President Denise Thiede. “BDI has always had an impeccable internal quality management system, but the certification process helped us refine our processes even further.”

Thiede explained that ISO/IEC 17025:2005 accreditation should provide customers of BDI with even more confidence in its test results. This is because it ensures that all methods have been appropriately validated, all analysts have been well trained, and all instrumentation has been appropriately calibrated and maintained. The more comprehensive understanding of measurement uncertainty required by this certification helps BDI guide customers in the interpretation of test results. Knowing how to appropriately interpret quality assurance or breeding data is essential for success in the seed business. ISO/IEC 17025:2005’s emphasis on measurement uncertainty will help the company guide customers in data interpretation.

ISO/IEC 17025:2005 is an international standard for testing and calibration labs that specifies general requirements for competence to carry out tests and/or calibrations. It is a comprehensive standard that covers standard test methods, non-standard test methods, and proprietary test methods; focuses on technical aspects of testing; and requires appropriate sampling methods as part of the testing process. Every test method included in this scope is accredited to the highest international level.

In 2002, BDI was accredited to ISO 9001, a manufacturing standard with an emphasis on process control. BDI made a commitment to move to a more technical standard and achieved that goal this year. ISO/IEC 17025:2005 accreditation, which focuses on technical competence and proficiency, is a better system for a seed testing lab.

Clients regularly audit the laboratory’s Quality Management System and are consistently pleased with the results, so the effort to become certified wasn’t a great leap. “We’ve been operating on this level for years,” said Thiede. “Now we have the documentation to prove that our clients receive the highest quality test results based on a system in use by the best laboratories in the world. In addition, we have the expertise to help customers understand what the data means for their specific product development efforts.”

To complete the prestigious certification, the laboratory had to successfully complete an accreditation audit. It will complete surveillance audits on an annual basis.

Testing procedures offered at BDI that are now certified by ISO/IEC 17025:2005 include:

• Standard seed testing, including germination and vigor tests
• Trait purity testing
• Genetic purity testing
• Adventitious presence (AP) testing
• Event identity and zygosity testing
• SNP genotyping
• Seed treatment analysis
• Fatty acid profiling

BioDiagnostics, Inc., is a leading testing laboratory serving the seed industry around the world. It has developed the most knowledgeable and experienced team of seed technologists in the industry by combining years of agribusiness experience with a strong academic foundation. BDI understands the technology behind the test, and it consults with customers to improve processes in plant breeding and seed production. Research and development at BDI drives innovation to provide new solutions for the ever-changing needs of the seed industry.

Website: https://www.eurofins-biodiagnostics.com/

Published: August 7, 2012