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VLB Test Laboratory successfully converted to meet the requirements of DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025:2018
In February 2020, an assessment carried out by the Deutsche Akkreditierungsstelle GmbH (DAkkS) confirmed that the conversion of the testing laboratory at VLB Berlin meets the current DIN EN ISO/ IEC 17025:2018 “General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories.” The accreditation certificate was awarded in June.
View inside one of VLB’s numerous laboratories (BF) The revision of the international standard placed an emphasis on management requirements, impartiality, confidentiality, as well as structure, terminology, and metrological traceability requirements. After extensive preparations, VLB was able to demonstrate to the DAkkS during the on-site assessment in February that the new regulatory requirements for competence were met and properly implemented. Among other things, this concerns personnel, ensuring the validity of test results, and dealing with risks and opportunities. The testing laboratory at VLB has been accredited since 2001 and has continuously adapted its management system and technical competence to the ever-increasing requirements relating to standards, the accreditation body, and customers.
Accredited laboratory areas
The VLB Test Laboratory comprises a number of highly specialized laboratory areas, which are operated by the various VLB research institutes and which are briefly described below. The Testing Laboratory for Packaging of the VLB Research Institute for Beer and Beverage Production (FIBGP) has been working as a special laboratory for the beverage industry since 1972. In the accredited area, the focus is on mechanical technological tests on bottles, bottle crates, and crown corks. The focus of the work at the biological laboratory of the VLB Research Institute for Biotechnology and Water (FIBW) is the micro and molecular biological analyses of beverages. The accredited test methods at this laboratory include microbiological
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tests of water, wort, yeast, beer, cleaning checks, wipe samples, and the molecular biological identification of microorganisms. The same research institute also houses the water technology test laboratory. Analyses of process water, test procedures according to the Drinking Water Regulation, and further analyses of drinking and wastewater are carried out here. Proper sampling by internal and specially trained personnel is included in the scope of accreditation and guarantees reliable results. The chemical and technical analysis of liquids is performed in the laboratories of the VLB Research Institute for Beer and Beverage Analysis (FIBGA). Numerous methods for determining the ingredients in beer, alcohol-free beverages, spirits, wort, and other auxiliary and intermediate products involved in beverage production are carried out here. Its services also include extensive hop analysis. The sensory testing of beer, beverages, and spirits is also included in the range of services included in the accredited methods.
Highest expertise and quality
The analytical testing department of the VLB Research Institute for Raw Materials (FIR) offers a wide range of analytics for brewing raw materials. In addition to the standards for raw material and malt analysis, the ac-
credited test methods also include variety differentiation by means of gel electrophoresis, pilot malting, and the determination of mycotoxins in barley and malt flour. Qualified
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employees and modern instruments form the basis for the high standard of quality that is maintained during the implementation of all analyses in the entire VLB Test Laboratory. Altogether, the accreditation comprises more than 300 test procedures, which are listed in the annex to the accreditation certificate D-PL-14173-01-00. The analysis performed by the testing laboratory within the scope of accreditation is supplemented by numerous procedures which are continually being developed and/or validated within the scope of research and development projects. This ensures that the scope of the accredited procedures can be continuously enhanced by new and improved test methods. In this way, VLB Berlin can continue to guarantee its customers and partners services of the highest competence and quality. The individual laboratory areas and their services will be presented in detail in the coming issues of the Brauerei Forum journal.
An overview of the entire range of laboratory analysis services is available at www.vlb-berlin.org/ en/laboratory-and-consulting. The accreditation certificate can also be viewed there. The two VLB Quality Management representatives, Dr. Martin Hageböck (Research Institute for Biotechnology and Water) and Jens Strohmeyer (Quality Management) present the new accreditation certificate on behalf of the entire VLB laboratory team
ANALYTICAL SERVICES RELATED TO HOPS, HOP PRODUCTS AND HOPPY BEER
+ Hop bitter acid analysis by conductometry, spectroscopy or HPLC + Determination of hop oil content and analysis of aroma compounds (terpenes, terpenoids, esters, acids, thiols etc.) + Analysis of hop polyphenols, xanthohumol, nitrate, and heavy metals + Analysis of hop derived compounds in wort and beer
