Glossary

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

Glossary

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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