When should you choose an accredited laboratory?

Define who will receive the measurement and which decision it supports; do not confuse sensor calibration with route validation.

6 July 2026Updated 23 September 2026

Short answer

First define whether the measurement is for internal monitoring, customer evidence, a contract or a legal decision. If the applicable request requires accredited scope, verify the laboratory covers the relevant measurand and range. Calibrating a sensor does not validate a loaded product route; that requires a separate field test.

Start laboratory selection with the intended use of the result. Internal trend monitoring, a customer report and regulatory evidence may have different acceptance conditions; obtain the requester's written criterion.

If external work is needed, match the laboratory's accreditation scope to the required measurand, range and method first. Review the scope schedule or report example before work starts; accreditation alone is not enough.

After sensor calibration, validate site position, load, door openings and route conditions under a separate protocol. The sensor certificate belongs to the instrument; it does not alone document transport duration or product conformity.