They are carried out as part of self-inspection or regulatory controls. These proficiency tests cover some of the requirements:

• approvals to carry out microbiological analyses for drinking waters, fresh bathing waters, saline bathing waters and waste waters  (check AGLAE's accreditation - Cofrac No. 1-1664)
• approvals of Ministries of Health

• water intended for human consumption (tap water, spring water, non-typical natural mineral water) 
• water for whirlpool baths, jet showers, standard treatments and bacteriologically controlled water
• hot sanitary water and process water
• swimming pool water
• waste water entering or leaving urban treatment plants
• sea water

Depending on the type of water, laborattories count in particular : 

• germs indicative of faecal contamination (Escherichia coli and enterococci)
• spores of anaerobic sulphite-reducing bacteria (French decree)
• Legionella
• yeasts and moulds
• Bacteriophages

• AGLAE uses strains found in routine samples and varies the strains and their concentration levels from one test to another.
• Depending on the methods used to analyse the parameters, differences in results are observed. AGLAE studies these and presents them in the test reports. These observations help laboratories to better interpret their test results.
• AGLAE has published several studies based on test observations, notably on legionella analysis, coliform analysis on CCA, and microbiology precision scales.
• AGLAE proficiency tests enable laboratories to assess their performance, to estimate the repeatability and reproducibility of their measurements, and also to provide them with an estimate of their measurement uncertainties for certain parameters.
• AGLAE provides customised reports to laboratories, enabling them to focus on possible improvements to their analyses.

AGLAE also offers to improve the quality of your measurements:

• dealing with water sampling and in situ measurements
• bacteriology - microscopic examination - fresh state and Gram staining (programmes 117 - medical biology catalogue)

See all AGLAE's tests

These assessments are carried out as part of self-inspection or accreditation.

They enable to cover some of the requirements of ISO 15189 accreditation "Medical laboratories - Requirements for quality and competence" in accordance with the standard scopes for accreditation of medical biology examinations.

• Synthetic urine
• Synthetic stool
• Human blood
• Synthetic Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
• Synthetic sputum
• Solutions contaminated with bacterial strains

A wide range of cytology and bacteriology tests are available, including:

• Cytobacteriological examination of urine (ECBU) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
• Sputum bacteriology
• Detection of urinary legionella or pneumococcal antigens
• Blood culture, bacteraemia and fungaemia
• Detection of streptococcus B
• Microscopic examinations (Gram stain)
• Antibiotic susceptibility testing by diffusion

• Since its creation, AGLAE has specialised in interlaboratory tests for microbiological analyses.
• External Quality Assessments have been provided in the field of medical biology for over 10 years (introduced in 2012).
• AGLAE provides quality control materials close to patient samples.
• The assessments are drawn up in consultation with experts in the field (private- medical biology laboratories and hospitals).
• A systematic comparison of analytical practices (different automated systems, culture media, reference systems) is carried out and the reports are personalised with the results of the laboratories for a large number of these assessments.

AGLAE can also improve the quality of your measurements in the following areas:

• water microbiology (including legionella, pathogenic staphylococci)
• water for medical use (microbiological analyses of water used in dialysis, endoscopes, etc.).

See all  AGLAE's tests

They are carried out as part of self-monitoring or regulatory controls. They enable part of the requirements to be covered:

• accreditation scopes related to physico-chemical analyses in waters (see Accreditation No. 1-1664) 
• approvals issued by Ministries of Health to carry out sampling and analysis for water quality control purposes 
• approvals issued by Ministries for the Environment to carry out analyses in the field of water and aquatic environments

• drinking water: tap water, spring water, natural mineral waters, highly mineralised mineral waters and sparkling waters
• clear freshwater, surface water
• swimming pool water
• wastewater entering or leaving urban wastewater treatment plants
• saline and brackish water

Depending on the type of water, laboratories measure in particular : 

• 'basic' physico-chemical parameters (pH, sulphate, nitrate, phosphate, magnesium, sodium, etc.)
• indicators such as phosphorus, nitrogen, 5-day Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD5), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)
• organoleptic parameters odour and flavour
• chlorophyll a and the pheopigment index
• parameters for sanitary control and monitoring of swimming pool water implemented by  Health Agencies: free and total chlorine, isocyanuric acid, as well as disinfection by-products such as bromates, chlorates, etc.

• The water used is representative of that encountered by laboratories in their routine analyses: seawater is sampled from the North Sea and wastewater comes from one wastewater treatment plant.
• Depending on the methods used to analyse these parameters, differences in results are observed. AGLAE studies them and presents them in the test reports. These observations help laboratories to better interpret their analysis results: AGLAE has published two studies on the measurement of COD and ST-COD based on test observations.
• AGLAE proficiency tests are used not only to assess laboratory performance, but also to check their estimated measurement uncertainties and estimate the repeatability and reproducibility of their measurements. 
• AGLAE provides personalised reports to laboratories, enabling them to focus on possible improvements to their analyses.

AGLAE also offers to improve the quality of your measurements:
- water sampling and in situ measurements
- metal analysis in waters 

See all AGLAE's tests