The Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) Drug Testing Laboratory in College Station recently earned ISO 17025 accreditation from the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) Competition Animal Drug Testing Laboratory Accreditation Program.

One of only a handful of laboratories in the United States to boast this internationally recognized accreditation, the laboratory can now serve as an option for both in-state and out-of-state animal owners to send samples for sound and accurate testing.

A non-governmental, public service-focused association, A2LA is itself ISO accredited as a proficiency testing provider, inspection body and product certifier. According to A2LA, the Competition Animal Drug Testing Laboratory Accreditation Program covers screening and confirmatory methodologies, including immunoassay, chromatographic and spectrometric techniques, for the qualitative and quantitative detection and identification of prohibited substances and their metabolites under state or other regulatory authorities.

"This accreditation demonstrates competence and confidence in what we do on a daily basis in the Drug Testing Laboratory," said assistant section head Travis Mays, MS. "Clients want assurance that the lab they send their samples to is recognized in the industry for their performance. This accreditation gives our clients that confidence and also helps establish new client relationships