LGC wins a new three-year, £7m contract to lead the development of the UK's infrastructure for chemical measurements, the Valid Analytical Measurement programme
LGC has won a new three-year contract from the DTI under the National Measurement System (NMS) Valid Analytical Measurement (Vam) programme.
Chemical, biochemical and DNA measurements are vital to the UK economy.
Industry, in particular, requires analytical measurements to ensure product quality, to monitor its impact to the environment, and to satisfy legal requirements.
It is estimated that the UK spends approximately £8000m on analytical measurements each year.
Since 1988, the Vam programme has been supporting UK industry to ensure that these measurements are carried out competently and accurately.
It provides working laboratories with the tools needed to implement best practice and demonstrate the validity of their results.
Commenting in an article in the Vam Bulletin, Paul Berryman, head of Hampshire County Council Scientific Service and currently appointed as Public Analyst to 25 local authorities, said: "Vam provides a basis for analytical measurement in the UK.
"Analytical measurement is vital to the everyday functioning of modern society and essential to underpinning innovation, industrial competitiveness and quality of life.
"Vam helps organisations to make analytical measurements that are fit for their intended purpose".
Vam 2003-06 will build on the work done in previous programmes, including, for example, further development of the UK Chemical Calibration Facility based at LGC's Teddington site.
LGC, as part of the new programme, will also develop more focused support for UK industry through the establishment of sector-based networks, which provide practical support for laboratories, and the transfer of knowledge developed under Vam.
Internationally, Vam funding will ensure that the UK continues to be a major influence on activities to establish common systems, which ensure the traceability and acceptability of analytical measurements throughout Europe and the rest of the world.
Denis Walker, director of DTI's National Measurement System Directorate, which funds the Vam programme, said: "The Vam programme has made significant progress in improving the comparability of chemical and bioanalytical measurements between the UK and its trading partners.
"The chemical measurement standards underpinned by Vam enable UK companies, large and small, to have confidence in their results, whether these are used to demonstrate product quality or regulatory compliance".
Richard Worswick, LGC's chief executive said: "We are absolutely delighted to have been entrusted by the DTI to continue to lead the development of the UK's national measurement system for chemical and bioanalytical measurements.
"Both as a national measurement centre and Europe's leading independent provider of analytical and diagnostic services, the provision of high quality and reliable data is a core value at LGC".
LGC has already begun to work on the new Vam programme.
Information on projects, including reports, guidance documents and other products will be made available via the Vam website.
