Proficiency and Interlaboratory Comparison Testing Scheme (PICTS) – 2026

2026 PROFICIENCY AND INTERLABORATORY COMPARISON TESTING SCHEME (PICTS)

Introduction

Please read the following notes carefully before continuing.

General

The 2026 scheme, consisting of 26 soil and rock tests is now open.

Changes for 2026 include:

• New for 2026: Abrasiveness of Rock using the CERCHAR Method (Test No. 23).
• CIU test (BS EN ISO 17892-9:2018, clause 6.4): now carried out on a set of three specimens (Test No. 19).
• Point Load Index (Test No. 22): now includes both axial and diametral specimens within the same test.

Scheme Programme

Registration

• Laboratories wishing to participate in the 2026 scheme must first register their interest by completing the online registration form (button at the bottom of this form), and selecting the tests they wish to participate in.

• As in previous years, we will require a minimum number of 5 participants for each test to be able to provide meaningful statistical analysis. Where there are fewer than 5 participants the data will be provided in a tabular format only.

• Laboratories MUST be able to perform tests to the standards specified upon the registration form. There will be no opportunity to perform tests to other standards. In the case of BS EN ISO 17892 tests, other EN ISO 17892 standards are permissible.  Please bear this in mind when deciding whether to participate in each section of the scheme.

Invoicing & Payment

• Laboratories will be invoiced once registration has closed.

• Invoices must be paid in full by the deadline shown in the Scheme Programme. The invoice will include postage and packing and/or courier fees where applicable. The postage and packing charges may vary for each laboratory depending upon the destination address.

• Failure to provide payment in full by the invoice payment deadline may delay dispatch of samples.

Sample Dispatch

• Test samples will be dispatched to laboratories no later than the dispatch date shown in the Scheme Programme.

• All laboratories outside the UK MUST provide, in advance, the appropriate regulatory documentation required for the importation of the test materials into their respective country.  Samples cannot be dispatched without this information. Geolabs Limited will not be responsible for any associated customs charges or importation delays.

Reporting

• Laboratories must return their completed test data in the required format by the submission deadline shown in the Scheme Programme. We will aim to provide the report by the target date shown.  Data submitted after the data submission deadline may not be included in the final report.

• If you are unable to provide AGS data from your laboratory software, we will provide an Excel reporting template for you to download and return when submitting test data to the scheme.

Confidentiality

• All laboratories in the scheme will be allocated a unique laboratory number known only to that laboratory and the scheme organiser.

• Participants will be provided with a factual report including tabular and/or graphical formats. The final report will be issued with

• their unique identification number watermarked on their copy to further ensure security of the report to the designated laboratory only.

Should you require any further information or clarification, please contact us as soon as possible.