Interlaboratory Comparison & Reference Materials

We plan, organise and analyse interlaboratory comparison rounds, and supply certified reference materials with assigned values — helping laboratories raise testing competence and data credibility.

50+ Comparison rounds run
100+ Participating laboratories
30+ Reference material grades
98% Customer satisfaction

End-to-end interlaboratory comparison service

From scheme design to data analysis — a single service that keeps your proficiency testing programme compliant, credible and sustainable.

📋STEP 1

Scheme design

Defining test items, parameters, reference standards and the participating laboratory scope

🧪STEP 2

Sample preparation

Homogeneity-verified samples, supplied with a homogeneity report and assigned values

📦STEP 3

Single dispatch

Samples shipped to all participating laboratories at the same time, under identical conditions

📊STEP 4

Data collection

Results gathered from each laboratory and entered into a single processing platform

📈STEP 5

Statistical analysis

Z-scores, performance indices and outlier detection, compiled into an assessment report

Three core services

Laboratory Comparison

Comparison scheme planning and organisation

Proficiency testing programmes tailored to each laboratory, covering mechanical, thermal, chemical and other test parameters.

Scope of service

  • Scheme design (parameter selection, reference standards, acceptance criteria)
  • Recruitment and qualification review of participating laboratories
  • Sample homogeneity assessment and stability monitoring
  • Comparison sample preparation, packaging and cold-chain distribution
  • Progress tracking and exception handling

Applicable standards

  • ISO/IEC 17043 — General requirements for proficiency testing
  • ISO 13528 — Statistical methods for use in proficiency testing
  • CNAS-CL03 — Accreditation criteria for proficiency testing providers
"We have organised more than 50 comparison rounds, covering plastics, metals, rubber and other material fields."
Data Analysis

Data analysis and reporting

Objective, impartial performance assessment of every laboratory using internationally accepted statistical methods.

Statistical methods

  • Z-score and En number methods
  • Robust statistics (median / normalised IQR)
  • Youden plot analysis
  • Outlier detection (Grubbs test, Nelson rules)
  • Performance index calculation (zeta, En)
  • Laboratory ranking and group assessment

Report contents

  • Summary table of raw data by laboratory
  • Statistical results and performance determination
  • Outlier laboratory analysis and root-cause inference
  • Improvement recommendations and follow-up plan
"The report format meets CNAS accreditation requirements and can be used directly in laboratory assessment files."
Standard Samples

Certified reference materials

Reference materials with traceable assigned values, calibrated by an authoritative body, for internal quality control and instrument calibration.

Sample types

  • Plastics tensile reference materials (PP, PA, ABS, PE)
  • Rubber hardness reference materials (Shore A/D)
  • Plastics impact reference materials (ABS, PP-GF)
  • Composite interlaminar shear reference materials
  • Custom-grade reference materials (made to order)

Assigned parameters

  • Tensile strength, elongation at break, elastic modulus
  • Supplied with uncertainty (k=2) and a certificate of assigned value
  • Custom parameters and grades available
"Every sample comes with the originating laboratory's raw results and the statistical summary."

Certified reference materials

Homogeneity-verified and value-assigned under a strict procedure; every batch ships with its own certificate and uncertainty data.

Certified reference material (CRM) is an essential tool for laboratory quality control and a key basis for instrument calibration and method validation.

Our materials go through:

  • Batch homogeneity testing (30+ samples drawn)
  • Joint value assignment across laboratories (n ≥ 8)
  • Stability monitoring (at least 6 months)
  • Uncertainty evaluation and certificate issue

Each batch ships with a printed and an electronic certificate stating the assigned parameters, measurement conditions, uncertainty and validity period.

🏆 Assigned after testing by at least 8 CNAS-accredited laboratories
🟡

PP-GF30 density reference material

30% glass-fibre reinforced polypropylene density reference material, for validating density methods and calibrating instruments.

Density 1.137 g/cm³ ISO 1183-1 Assigned by 11 laboratories Raw results included
🔵

PP-GF30 tensile modulus reference material

30% glass-fibre reinforced polypropylene tensile modulus reference material, for validating tensile methods and proficiency comparison.

Tensile modulus 7,236 MPa ISO 527 Assigned by 12 laboratories Raw results included
⚪

PP-GF30 flexural modulus reference material

30% glass-fibre reinforced polypropylene flexural modulus reference material, for validating flexural methods and calibrating instruments.

Flexural modulus 7,126 MPa ISO 178 Assigned by 12 laboratories Raw results included
🟤

PP-GF30 impact strength reference material

30% glass-fibre reinforced polypropylene notched impact reference material, for validating impact methods and proficiency comparison.

Notched impact 12.5 kJ/m² ISO 179 Assigned by 12 laboratories Raw results included
🟢

PP/EPDM-T12 high-toughness impact reference material

High-toughness PP/EPDM blend impact reference material, for validating impact methods on high-toughness materials.

Notched impact 61.7 kJ/m² ISO 179 Assigned by 12 laboratories Raw results included
🔷

Grey ABS heat deflection temperature reference material

Grey ABS heat deflection temperature reference material, for validating HDT methods and calibrating equipment.

HDT 1.8MPa 75.4°C ISO 75 Assigned by 7 laboratories Raw results included

Professional comparison reports

Every report is rigorously reviewed — standardised format, transparent data, compliant with CNAS accreditation and ISO/IEC 17043.

Report template

Interlaboratory comparison analysis report

Each comparison round comes with a complete analysis report containing raw data, statistical results, performance assessment and improvement recommendations.

  • Participating laboratory details and test conditions
  • Full coverage of multiple reference materials and test items
  • Statistic computation (mean, standard deviation, median, IQR)
  • Z-score computation and performance determination (satisfactory / questionable / unsatisfactory)
  • Outlier detection and flagging of anomalous data
  • Comparative charts of laboratory results
  • Compliant with ISO/IEC 17043 and CNAS-CL03
📄 2019 annual report 📄 2024 annual report
Analysis Report #135
🔬 Plastics Charpy notched impact strength comparison Report no. #135
Overview
Test itemCharpy notched impact strength (ISO 179)
Sample typesABS reference bars (KP) / HIPS reference bars (KZ)
Participating laboratories21 laboratories
Confidence interval95% (K=2)
Statistical results
ABS grand mean25.94 kJ/m²
ABS standard deviation1.04 kJ/m²
HIPS grand mean11.97 kJ/m²
HIPS standard deviation0.36 kJ/m²
Z-scores by laboratory (ABS sample)
XXR 3G8 HM5 GC8 HG1 7CW MIS JCA COJ K3P
-0.5
0.6
-1.1
-0.3
1.1
-0.1
-1.5
1.3
-1.5
-0.5
Z-scores (|Z| ≤ 2 = satisfactory; source: Analysis Report.docx)

Comparison report downloads

Summary reports from past interlaboratory comparisons, downloadable by year.This area is password-protected. Your password is your laboratory code.For earlier reports or project-specific reports, please contact us.

🔐 Laboratory Access
🔒

Report download area · password required

This area holds the comparison analysis reports for each participating laboratory and is open only to them.
Password = your laboratory code(Laboratory code the 6-character letter / digit combination in the roster,case-insensitive)。

Don't have a laboratory code yet? PleaseContactrequest one.

✅ Report download area unlocked · signed in as —
🌐 Gloss · Interlaboratory comparison report (high-gloss black PC / matt black PP) 2026HTMLWeb version39 laboratories2 samplesCNAS-GL002 View
🌐 Colour · Interlaboratory comparison report (red / blue) 2026HTMLWeb version37 laboratories2 samplesCNAS-GL0023 reports Expand
🌐 Interior lightfastness · Interlaboratory comparison report (RMIS-PS / RMIC-PC) 2026HTMLWeb version33 laboratories2 samplesCNAS-GL00210 reports Expand
📁 DE* data analysis 5 reports Expand
📁 Db* data analysis 5 reports Expand
🌐 Exterior lightfastness · Interlaboratory comparison report (RMES-PS / RMEC-PC) 2026HTMLWeb version27 laboratories2 samplesCNAS-GL00210 reports Expand
📁 DE* data analysis 5 reports Expand
📁 DB* data analysis 5 reports Expand

Reports are web pages (HTML) — click to open them in your browser. For Word versions, earlier reports or project-specific reports, pleaseContact。

Why choose KeyPoint

📋

End-to-end service

Scheme design, sample preparation, data analysis and reporting completed in one place — no coordination across multiple parties.

🏅

Accreditation

Reports follow ISO/IEC 17043 and CNAS-CL03 requirements and are recognised by the commissioning OEM.

📊

Professional statistics

ISO 13528 methods with Z-scores, En numbers, robust statistics and other assessment systems.

🔬

Reference materials

30+ grades of certified reference material covering plastics, rubber and metals, each with a CNAS certificate.

Start a proficiency testing partnership

Tell us your test field, parameter requirements and programme scale — we will design a comparison scheme or recommend suitable reference materials.