Fapas® - Fera's Proficiency Testing Division

Established in 1990, Fapas is a world recognised provider of proficiency tests, running over 600 tests annually across an extensive range of matrices and analytes for the food and water, environmental chemistry and microbiology sectors. Taking part in our proficiency tests provides you with the confidence in your laboratory equipment, methods and staff, and assurance that you are delivering the quality results required by your customers.We provide our participants with a confidential service that allows you to participate at a level that suits you; there is no minimum number of proficiency tests that you must take part in each year. Proficiency testing is an essential part of laboratory quality procedure and participation is a mandatory requirement of ISO 17025 accreditation. Fapas covers chemical analysis of real food samples for a wide range of target analytes including: nutritional components, additives, natural contaminants, pesticide and veterinary medicine residues, and packaging chemical migrants. Comprehensive reports provide information on analytical methods used by other participants as well as historic trend analysis and follows international guidelines for proficiency testing and is accredited by UKAS to ISO/IEC 17043. With our Food Microbiology programme we offer 10 distributions throughout the year giving you the flexibility to choose what you need and when where as our GM programme covers the detection and/or enumeration of genetically modified material in food samples, including soya and maize.Our Water & Environmental scheme assesses the performance of laboratories in water and environmental testing sectors. The scheme satisfies the UK Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) requirements for the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulation 2010: Regulation 16, Appendix 1 for both chemical and microbiological parameters.