From Compliance to Confidence: The Value of Certified Reference Materials in Ensuring Measurement Quality

Event organized by CHEMIFARM SRL.

Founded in Parma in 1984, CHEMIFARM SRL provides reagents, instrumentation, and services to chemical and microbiological analysis laboratories across the industrial, research, and educational sectors.

As one of the pioneers in its sector to achieve UNI EN ISO 9001 certification, the company earned its first Accredia accreditations in 2005 for instrument calibration and the production of reference materials. Since 2018, it has boasted two autonomous Accredited Centers: LAT N° 00329 (Calibration) and RMP N° 00329 (Reference Material Production).

In addition to assisting clients with selecting and using equipment and materials through solid consulting services, CHEMIFARM SRL’s highly specialized technical team is deeply dedicated to researching and developing new products and reference materials.

Session Overview

The quality of analytical data has become a strategic factor in safeguarding public health, environmental protection, food safety, and industrial competitiveness. In this context, Certified Reference Materials (CRMs) are essential tools for ensuring metrological traceability, method validation, measurement uncertainty estimation, and the reliability of analytical results.

This presentation will explore the role of CRMs within the accreditation framework, highlighting the relationship between ISO 17034, which specifies the competence requirements for Reference Material Producers, and ISO/IEC 17025, the international standard for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories.

The presentation will also clarify the distinction between Reference Materials (RMs) and Certified Reference Materials (CRMs), a fundamental concept for understanding the significance of metrological traceability and measurement quality.

Starting from the concept of a “quality culture”, the discussion will examine the shift from viewing accreditation as a mere regulatory obligation to embracing it as a means of building confidence in analytical data. Examples from the food, environmental, and pharmaceutical sectors will illustrate how reliable measurements directly influence decisions with significant economic, regulatory, and public health implications.

Part of the presentation will focus on both the opportunities and challenges associated with laboratory accreditation, with particular attention to the issues faced by small laboratories, including economic sustainability, documentation management, access to Certified Reference Materials, participation in proficiency testing schemes, and the need to balance technical rigor with operational efficiency.

The aim is to provide an integrated perspective on the role of Certified Reference Materials as fundamental tools for strengthening confidence in analytical results and fostering a culture of quality that is robust, sustainable, and innovation-driven.

Spokeswomen

	Dott.ssa Francesca Giuffredi - CEO and Technical Director
	Dott.ssa Virginia Giuffredi - Quality Management System

  Italian / English translation available (see below)