Glossary

This glossary explains the terms used on the RvA website. For formal definitions of the terms, we refer to ISO/IEC 17000 and the relevant accreditation standards.

frequentley asked questions

A

Term
Description
Term
Accreditation
Description
An independent confirmation of the expertise, impartiality and independence of a conformity assessment body on the basis of international harmonised standards
Term
Accreditation body
Description
The body appointed by the government (based on (EU)765/2008) to issue accreditations in the relevant country
Term
Accreditation mark
Description
Logo that accredited bodies can use on certificates and other communications as proof of accreditation
Term
Accredited organisation
Description
Body in respect of which the accreditation body has established that it meets the requirements of a specific international harmonised standard
Term
Assessment
Description
Establishing by or on behalf of the RvA that the requirements of accreditation are met
Term
Accreditation Committee
Description
Independent committee that advises the Executive board of the RvA about accreditation decisions

C

Term
Description
Term
Calibration
Description
Establishing whether the value displayed by a measuring device is correct in relation to the international unit of measure
Term
Category A non-conformity
Description
A situation where the RvA assessment team considers the requirements for accreditation are not met, and that can lead or have led to incorrect or unreliable results, unjustified claims to accreditation or a specific threat to health or safety of persons or the environment
Term
Category B non-conformity
Description
A situation where the RvA assessment team considers the requirements for accreditation are not met, but that does not lead to one of the situations specified under Category A
Term
CCKL
Description
Institute for the promotion of quality in laboratory research and for the accreditation of laboratories in the health care sector, which has been part of the RvA since 2008
Term
CCKL Code of Practice
Description
National standard on the basis of which CCKL accreditations are undertaken
Term
Certification
Description
Establishing whether products, management systems or persons meet specific requirements
Term
Conformity assessment
Description
Establishing whether a product, process, service or person meets specific requirements
Term
Corrective measure
Description
Improvement action resulting from a non-conformity established during the assessment

D

Term
Description
Term
Discipline
Description
Area in which the RvA accredits: calibration, testing, medical laboratories, proficiency testing organisers, producers of reference materials, inspection, certification and verification

E

Term
Description
Term
EA
Description
Coordinating European accreditation body in which the national accreditation bodies are represented
Term
European co-operation for Accreditation
Description
Coordinating European accreditation body in which the national accreditation bodies are represented (EA)
Term
European Regulation 765/2008
Description
European Regulation setting out the requirements for accreditation and market surveillance relating to the marketing of products
Term
Explanatory document
Description
Document that describes the RvA policy and/or procedure relating to a specific accreditation discipline

G

Term
Description
Term
Greenhouse gas verification body
Description
Body that verifies a manufacturer’s stated emissions

H

Term
Description
Term
Harmonised standard
Description
International standard on the basis of which accreditations are issued

I

Term
Description
Term
IAF
Description
World association of Conformity Assessment Accreditation Bodies
Term
ILAC
Description
World association for the accreditation of Laboratories and Inspection Bodies
Term
Inspection
Description
Assessment of a design, product, process or installation, to establish is it meets the specific or general requirements
Term
International Accreditation Forum
Description
World association of Conformity Assessment Accreditation Bodies(IAF)
Term
International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation
Description
World association for the accreditation of Laboratories and Inspection Bodies (ILAC)
Term
ISO 14065
Description
International standard on the basis of which greenhouse gas verification bodies are accredited
Term
ISO 15189
Description
International standard on the basis of which medical laboratories are accredited
Term
ISO 17034
Description
International standard on the basis of which producers of reference materials are accredited
Term
ISO/IEC 17011
Description
International standard on the basis of which accreditation bodies are accredited
Term
ISO/IEC 17020
Description
International standard on the basis of which inspection bodies are accredited
Term
ISO/IEC 17021
Description
International standard on the basis of which management system certification bodies are accredited
Term
ISO/IEC 17024
Description
International standard on the basis of which personal certification bodies are accredited
Term
ISO/IEC 17025
Description
International standard on the basis of which calibration and test laboratories are accredited
Term
ISO/IEC 17043
Description
International standard on the basis of which organisers of proficiency tests are accredited
Term
ISO/IEC 17065
Description
International harmonised standard on the basis of which product certification bodies are accredited

M

Term
Description
Term
Management system certification
Description
Establishing whether an organisation’s management system meets the requirements
Term
Medical laboratory
Description
Laboratory that undertakes medical analyses

O

Term
Description
Term
Organiser of proficiency tests
Description
Organisation that supplies an identical sample to different laboratories and compares the results from these laboratories with each other

P

Term
Description
Term
Peer review
Description
Four-yearly assessment of accreditation bodies undertaken by assessors from other accreditation bodies on the basis of the ISO/IEC 17011 standard
Term
Personal certification
Description
Establishing whether a person is competent
Term
Producer of reference materials
Description
Establishing whether products, services or processes meet the requirements
Term
Proficiency test
Description
Investigation whereby the test results from different laboratories are compared with each other

R

Term
Description
Term
Report
Description
Draft or final report resulting from an assessment that has been carried out
Term
Report
Description
Complaint about an accredited organisation
Term
Reference material
Description
Reference material Material of known composition, which laboratories use for undertaking checks
Term
Registration number
Description
Number allocated by the RvA under which an accredited body is registered with the RvA

S

Term
Description
Term
Scheme for conformity assessments
Description
Document that describes the subject and the requirements of a specific assessment
Term
Scheme acceptance
Description
Establishment by the RvA that a scheme meets the specified requirements
Term
Scheme manager
Description
Organisation that manages one or more schemes
Term
Suspension
Description
Temporarily withdrawal of a scope of accreditation
Term
Scope
Description
Activity/work for which an organisation is or will become accredited
Term
Specific accreditation protocol
Description
Document containing a brief description for a specific accreditation discipline and which serves as a practical supplement to the RvA policy rules
Term
Stakeholder Advisary Panel
Description
Advisory body of the RvA in which the RvA stakeholders are represented
Term
Statement of conformity
Description
Statement that confirms that a product, process, service, system or person meets specific requirements

T

Term
Description
Term
Testing
Description
Establishing the properties of products or systems

U

Term
Description
Term
User Council
Description
Advisory body with representatives of RvA’s clients

V

Term
Description
Term
Verification
Description
Independent assessment of data as regards reliability and correctness

W

Term
Description
Term
Withdrawal
Description
Accreditation that is stopped voluntarily (by the organisation) or by order (of the RvA)

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