ILAC MRA (Mutual Recognition Arrangement)
Issued by International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC)
Regulatory FrameworkAudit Scope
Framework-level: ILAC evaluates accreditation bodies (not individual labs) for equivalence in laboratory accreditation programs. Signatories agree to recognize each other's accredited laboratories.
What It Proves
The accreditation body that accredited a lab is internationally recognized. Test results from labs accredited by ILAC MRA signatories are accepted across signatory countries without retesting. A2LA, ANAB (US), and SCC (Canada) are ILAC MRA signatories.
What It Does Not Prove
ILAC does NOT accredit individual laboratories and does NOT evaluate lab quality directly. It recognizes accreditation BODIES. Whether A2LA is 'better than' ANAB is practitioner opinion, not an ILAC determination. ILAC MRA signatory status is the threshold question — above that threshold, accreditor identity is a contextual note, not a quality differentiator.
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