Each report shall include at least the following information, unless the laboratory has valid reasons for not doing so, thereby minimizing any possibility of misunderstanding or misuse:
a) a title (e.g. “Test Report”, “Calibration Certificate” or “Report of Sampling”);
b) the name and address of the laboratory;
c) the location of performance of the laboratory activities, including when performed at a customer facility or at sites away from the laboratory’s permanent facilities, or in associated temporary or mobile facilities;
d) unique identification that all its components are recognized as a portion of a complete report and a clear identification of the end;
e) the name and contact information of the customer;
f) identification of the method used;
g) a description, unambiguous identification, and, when necessary, the condition of the item;
h) the date of receipt of the test or calibration item(s), and the date of sampling, where this is critical to the validity and application of the results;
i) the date(s) of performance of the laboratory activity;
j) the date of issue of the report;
k) reference to the sampling plan and sampling method used by the laboratory or other bodies where these are relevant to the validity or application of the results;
l) a statement to the effect that the results relate only to the items tested, calibrated or sampled;
m) the results with, where appropriate, the units of measurement;
n) additions to, deviations, or exclusions from the method;
o) identification of the person(s) authorizing the report;
p) clear identification when results are from external providers.
NOTE Including a statement specifying that the report shall not be reproduced except in full without approval of the laboratory can provide assurance that parts of a report are not taken out of context.