Case Study
Accreditation enhances third-party testing efficiency
Summary
By fully implementing China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment (CNAS) laboratory management systems, a Sichuan-based enterprise achieved standardised operations. Product retesting rates dropped from 8.4% to 3.2%, reagent utilisation rose from 55% to 73%, and annual testing volume grew by 38% over three years.
Background
To promote the specialised, refined, distinctive, and innovative development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which are also known as “Specialized and New” enterprises, since early 2024, the Chinese government has been encouraging SMEs to obtain quality management system certification accredited by CNAS as an important measure to strengthen quality management and enhance production management capabilities.
Strategy
A testing institution in Sichuan, established in 2018, is a National High-Tech Enterprise and technology-based SME specialising in third-party animal disease testing. It operates seven branch laboratories in Chengdu, Chongqing, Yunnan, Jiangxi, Hunan, and Shandong, and three alliance laboratories in Beijing, Guangdong, and Guangxi. Since 2021, the institution has progressively obtained CNAS accreditation, fully implementing the CNAS quality management system to achieve standardised, professional, and formalised operational management.
Accreditation enhances quality and efficiency
Throughout four years of operating the high-quality CNAS management system, the institution has achieved a continuous increase in testing accuracy and compliance rates, with customer satisfaction reaching 99.6% by 2024. The retesting rate decreased from 8.4% pre-accreditation to 3.2%, while the reagent and consumable utilisation rate rose from 55% to 73% in 2024. Service quality has earned high recognition from stakeholders. Testing volume grew steadily to 1.65 million, 2.21 million, and 2.96 million samples in 2022-2024, with an average annual growth of 38%. In 2024, five laboratories were designated as national animal disease surveillance sites among the Ministry of Agriculture’s 41 monitoring points, actively supporting major epidemic monitoring.
Accreditation drives technological innovation
Motivated by CNAS accreditation, the institution has developed multiple testing kits and patented technologies to meet growing demand. Over four years, it obtained one design patent, four invention patents, 52 utility model patents, and 47 software copyrights (soft copyrights). By applying, promoting, and continuously sharing CNAS experience with alliance and partner laboratories through validation, proficiency testing, and training, it advances industry progress. This contributes significantly to ensuring food safety, safeguarding public health, and preventing zoonotic diseases.
Results and impact
Product retesting rates dropped from 8.4% to 3.2%, reagent utilisation rose from 55% to 73%, and annual testing volume grew by 38% over three years.
Contact
Organisation: Compiled by China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment (CNAS)
