I'm currently going through the accreditation process, with the first audit coming up.

You must have a specific scope for accreditation. ISO17025 isn't like other QMS's like ISO 9001:2000. With systems like ISO 9001, you are going after certification to a standard, whereas with 17025 you are going after accreditation. The main difference is that with accreditation, they are looking much more deeply at what you are doing, even making judgments at the competency of your personnel.

Just because a lab is 'A2LA' accredited, doesn't mean they are accredited for every test they might perform. Accreditation is test method specific, not specific to the lab as a whole. For example, my lab conducts over 120 different test methods for testing in different industries. However, the scope of my accreditation will only include about 30-40 of those test. We will be accredited to those tests only, there is no blanket accreditation.

Hope this helps.

I would choose Italy/Switzerland. You can't beat the fresh and wonderfully delicious Italian cuisine, the scenic views, the fantastic museums and the treacherous and interesting Roman history.

it should be ok just watch them closely for the first couple of days