TSE ISO Guide 34

TSE ISO Guide 34 addresses the general requirements used to assess the competence of reference material producers. It sets out the operating principles a producer must demonstrate when preparing, characterising and controlling reference materials so that its production activities can be regarded as reliable.

Why reference material production is a distinct competence area

Reference materials are used to validate measurements, perform calibration, compare methods and support quality assurance work. For that reason, production depends on more than laboratory skill alone: it requires control over composition, traceability of properties, and consistency from batch to batch. In general technical terms, this is a structured activity that combines planning, documentation, control and technical judgment.

This TSE ISO Guide 34 edition focuses on how the organisation operates in order to demonstrate competence. Its purpose is to support a systematic and auditable framework for reference material production, but this record does not by itself define a specific test method or a single product category.

What the scope means in practice

• Planned and consistent management of production activities
• Appropriate determination and recording of reference material properties
• An operating system that supports the reliability of production results
• A common technical language for quality management and chemical reagent-related practice