In today’s highly regulated laboratory environment, data quality is everything. Whether testing drinking water, wastewater, environmental samples, pharmaceuticals, food products, or industrial chemicals, laboratories must demonstrate that their results are accurate, traceable, and reproducible.
This is where ERA-certified materials play a critical role.
As laboratories face increasing scrutiny from regulators, accreditation bodies, and customers, the use of a reliable certified reference material has become an essential component of quality assurance programs. Through its partnership with ERA, Graham B Jackson provides laboratories across Australia and New Zealand access to industry-leading certified reference materials that help validate methods, verify instrument performance, and support compliance with international standards.
What Is a Certified Reference Material?
A certified reference material (CRM) is a material characterised by a metrologically valid procedure, accompanied by a certificate that provides specific property values, associated uncertainties, and traceability information.
In simple terms, CRMs serve as benchmark standards that laboratories use to verify the accuracy and reliability of their analytical methods.
These materials help answer a critical question:
“Can we trust our test results?”
Without reliable reference standards, laboratories risk generating inaccurate data that can lead to regulatory non-compliance, failed audits, product recalls, environmental incidents, or costly operational decisions.
Why Laboratories Depend on ERA Certified Materials
For more than four decades, ERA has been a recognised leader in proficiency testing and certified reference material manufacturing. The company supports thousands of laboratories globally and develops standards specifically designed for environmental, water, industrial, pharmaceutical, and life science applications.
ERA’s quality systems are built around internationally recognised standards and accreditation requirements, ensuring that laboratories receive products with documented traceability, rigorous quality control, and consistent performance.
This commitment to quality makes ERA certified materials a trusted choice for laboratories seeking reliable analytical validation tools.
Supporting ISO 17025 Compliance
Laboratories accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 are required to demonstrate technical competence and ensure the validity of their results.
One of the most effective ways to meet these requirements is through the use of a qualified certified reference material.
CRMs support compliance by helping laboratories:
- Verify analytical methods
- Calibrate instruments
- Assess measurement uncertainty
- Validate testing procedures
- Monitor ongoing analytical performance
- Demonstrate traceability during audits
As accreditation bodies continue to strengthen quality requirements, the use of certified reference materials has become a best practice rather than an optional quality control measure.
The Cost of Poor Data Quality
Laboratory errors can have significant consequences.
According to various industry studies, poor data quality can lead to:
- Regulatory penalties
- Increased retesting costs
- Delayed project timelines
- Product quality failures
- Environmental compliance issues
- Loss of customer confidence
Even minor analytical deviations can affect critical decisions involving public health, environmental protection, manufacturing quality, and process optimisation.
Using ERA-certified materials provides an independent means of verifying that laboratory results remain accurate and defensible.
Applications Across Multiple Industries
One of the advantages of ERA’s portfolio is its broad applicability across diverse testing environments.
Environmental Laboratories
Environmental laboratories use certified reference materials to verify testing for nutrients, metals, volatile organics, PFAS compounds, and other contaminants.
Drinking Water Testing
Water utilities rely on CRMs to ensure compliance with drinking water regulations and verify microbiological and chemical testing accuracy.
Industrial Laboratories
Manufacturers use reference materials to monitor process performance and maintain product quality standards.
Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences
Accurate analytical measurements are essential for regulatory submissions, product development, and quality assurance programs.
Food and Beverage Testing
Reference standards help laboratories verify testing methods used to ensure food safety and product consistency.
Why Choose Graham B Jackson for ERA Certified Materials?
Graham B Jackson has built a strong reputation as a trusted supplier of laboratory reference standards throughout Australia and New Zealand.
By partnering with Graham B Jackson, laboratories gain access to:
- Genuine ERA-certified materials
- Comprehensive certified reference material solutions
- Technical support from experienced specialists
- Fast local service and product availability
- Solutions aligned with accreditation and regulatory requirements
Whether supporting routine quality control, method validation, proficiency testing, or accreditation activities, Graham B Jackson helps laboratories implement reliable quality assurance programs with confidence.
Building Confidence Through Traceability
Reliable laboratory results begin with reliable standards.
As analytical methods become more sophisticated and regulatory expectations continue to increase, laboratories need quality assurance tools that provide traceability, consistency, and confidence.
By incorporating ERA-certified materials into their quality systems, laboratories can strengthen data integrity, improve compliance, reduce analytical risk, and demonstrate technical competence.
For organisations committed to producing accurate and defensible results, a high-quality certified reference material is not simply a requirement—it is an investment in laboratory excellence.
FAQs
- What is a certified reference material (CRM)?
A certified reference material is a quality-assured standard with documented property values, uncertainty measurements, and traceability used to validate laboratory testing and calibration procedures. - Why are ERA-certified materials important?
ERA-certified materials help laboratories verify analytical accuracy, support ISO 17025 compliance, improve data quality, and demonstrate confidence in reported results. - Which industries use certified reference materials?
CRMs are widely used in environmental testing, drinking water analysis, wastewater monitoring, pharmaceuticals, food and beverage testing, petrochemicals, and industrial manufacturing. - How do certified reference materials support accreditation?
They provide objective evidence of method performance, traceability, and quality control, helping laboratories meet accreditation and regulatory requirements. - Does Graham B Jackson (GBJ) supply ERA-certified materials in Australia and New Zealand?
Yes. Graham B Jackson supplies a comprehensive range of ERA-certified materials and proficiency testing solutions to laboratories throughout Australia and New Zealand.
For Further Enquiry Contact: sales@gbjpl.com.au