Laboratory service provider Qotho Laboratory Services launched the first round of its Cobalt Concentrate Proficiency Testing (PT) scheme earlier this year, expanding its range of PT schemes, which already includes copper, nickel, chrome, iron, manganese and precious metals.

Qotho MD Dr Hannelie de Beer explains that the company aims to develop a range of PT schemes within the mining industry to improve the quality of analysis at African mining laboratories specifically, as well as the global mining industry, in general.

The cobalt scheme, announced toward the end of last year, recently obtained the required minimum of ten participating laboratories, allowing the scheme to proceed. Qotho will now provide concentrate samples for testing and analysis to the participating laboratories, which will report their results and methods to Qotho.

“Participation in our schemes will provide laboratories with a means of assessing the accuracy and comparability of their results with peer laboratories,” De Beer says, pointing out that many mining and minerals processing decisions are based on laboratory results and, thus, determining a benchmark for testing within the mining industry is vital.

PT schemes generally consist of the development and evaluation of laboratory tests for the same or similar products by several laboratories, based on predefined conditions. International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) requirement ISO 17025:2005 states that laboratories must participate in interlaboratory comparison programmes and/or PT schemes to vet the quality of their analytical results by independent means.

De Beer notes that Qotho’s copper scheme has been particularly well received, commenting that interest in the scheme continues to grow and, at present, 18 laboratories are participating in the copper concentrate and/or cathode impurities PT schemes.

She states that Qotho’s business is booming, noting that “there is a growing demand for participation in our PT schemes and we have also expanded our preparation capacity, and are now actively involved in the preparation of in-house reference materials – Qotho Reference Materials, or QRMs”.

De Beer points out that, when economic conditions are tough, companies tend to focus on quality. As a result, Qotho is flourishing because its PT schemes assist clients by highlighting problems, allowing clients to improve their laboratory’s performance.

She adds that, as a direct result of the company’s growth, a cofounder, director and 33% stakeholder, Phuti Mathopa, has joined the company on a full time basis. Mathopa has been responsible for the expansion of the QRM division since January, while director and 33% stakeholder Lucky Mamba, who has been with the company since its inception, heads the PT division.

Qotho is also working towards ISO 17043 accreditation – which is specific to PT service providers. De Beer says the company’s objective is to submit its application to the South African National Accreditation System by August.

Qotho, as a subsidiary of laboratory solutions provider Tramecon, is actively involved in assisting clients with gap analysis and preassessment audits based on the requirements of ISO 17025, which outline the general requirements for laboratories to conduct tests, calibrations or sampling. It covers testing using standard methods, nonstandard methods and laboratory-developed methods.

Tramecon provides consulting services to laboratories, where quality and/or service delivery is an issue. “It is a comprehensive service that interrogates the entire value chain – from sampling to final reporting – with the objective of identifying the root causes of the quality or service delivery breakdown.” Tramecon then – based on the client’s inputs – proposes improvements to the current practices and process flows.