A2LA Accredits First Cannabis Testing Laboratory in Pennsylvania
FREDERICK, Md. (PRWEB) March 29, 2018 -- A2LA is proud to announce the accreditation of the first cannabis testing laboratory to ISO/IEC 17025 in the state of Pennsylvania. Keystone State Testing, located in Harrisburg, PA, finalized the accreditation process on February 21, 2018. The laboratory has also been assessed to ISO/IEC 17025 – General Requirements for the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories and A2LA R243 - Specific Requirements – Cannabis Testing Laboratory Accreditation Program. R243 was published in collaboration with ASA (Americans for Safe Access) and is derived from the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA)’s Recommendations for Regulators – Cannabis Laboratory Operations. Keystone State Testing is currently able to perform the tests required by the state of PA on cannabis flower and plant material.
The A2LA Cannabis Accreditation Program establishes a standard of quality for the testing of cannabis and cannabis-derived products, including hemp, oils, and hash concentrates. Currently, a significant number of states where cannabis has been legalized for recreational and/or medical use, specify or encourage laboratory accreditation to the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025. Because each state’s specific requirements for cannabis testing vary, A2LA is focused on working with state regulators to establish consistent regulatory requirements, and to offer accreditation to any specific state requirements, if necessary. These efforts ensure that A2LA accreditation offers the highest level of recognition and provides the most value to the laboratory and to users of these products.
“Keystone State Testing is proud to be the first Pennsylvania laboratory to earn A2LA ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation as well as ASA’s Patient Focused Certification,” stated Dr. Kelly Greenland, Keystone State Testing’s owner/operator. “We regard these accreditations and certifications as the first steps in ensuring patient safety and will continue to do everything within our power to ensure medical marijuana patient safety.”
A2LA General Manager, Adam Gouker stated, “A2LA is pleased to see the growing adoption of the combined assessment to include the ASA requirements. Our staff has worked tirelessly in conjunction with ASA staff to create this combined program and offer something that no other accreditation body in the world offers. We congratulate Keystone State Testing Labs on leading the charge in the state of Pennsylvania and laying the groundwork for future laboratories to follow.”
A2LA is currently accepting new applications for accreditation from testing laboratories under the A2LA Cannabis Testing Program to both ISO/IEC 17025 or combined ISO/IEC 17025 and R243 – Cannabis Specific Testing Requirements. In addition, laboratories that currently hold ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation with A2LA and that are in states where medical or recreational cannabis has been legalized, may expand their existing Scope of Accreditation to include tests in this area. More information regarding the A2LA Cannabis Accreditation Program may be found at http://www.A2LA.org/Cannabis.
About A2LA
A2LA is a non-profit, non-governmental, third-party accreditation body, offering internationally-recognized accreditation services and training to testing and calibration laboratories, inspection bodies, proficiency testing providers, reference material producers and product certifiers.
Michelle Bradac, A2LA, http://www.A2LA.org, +1 301-644-3227 Ext: 304, [email protected]
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