The American Association for Laboratory Accreditation has accredited ISO-17025 standards to GeneScan USA, a network of biotech companies, for the detection and quantification of bioengineered DNA in food and agricultural products using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques.
ISO-17025 is an internationally recognised standard that provides rigorous guidelines that define the quality management procedures of a company. This ensures traceability of all testing procedures and establishes an elaborate system of documentation. To obtain this accreditation, a laboratory must prove that its staff is technically proficient and that the testing procedures it uses meet strict quality control criteria. Additionally, the lab must successfully participate in proficiency testing programs and complete an extensive series of internal and external audits.
GeneScan USA, is the US analytical arm of GeneScan Europe, a publicly traded company based in Freiburg, Germany.