When you send a material or component for analysis, you need confidence in more than the measurement. You need to understand how the laboratory establishes reliable results, protects sensitive information, and handles your project’s compliance requirements.
At Covalent, these responsibilities are supported by three credentials: ISO/IEC 17025:2017 laboratory accreditation, an independent SOC 2 examination, and ITAR registration. Each addresses a different part of the trust customers place in their analytical partner.
ISO/IEC 17025:2017: Demonstrating laboratory competence
ISO/IEC 17025 is the international standard for the competence, impartiality, and consistent operation of testing and calibration laboratories. It provides a framework for laboratories to demonstrate that they can produce valid results, helping customers assess the technical foundation behind their data.
Covalent is accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 by Perry Johnson Laboratory Accreditation, Inc. (PJLA). Our accredited scope includes activities in five fields:
- Chemical testing
- Dimensional inspection
- Optical testing
- Mechanical testing
- Non-destructive testing
The scope identifies specific analytical activities involving techniques such as scanning acoustic microscopy, X-ray diffraction, micro-CT, transmission electron microscopy, FIB-SEM, SEM-EDS, and dynamic light scattering. Accreditation applies to the activities and location specified in the certificate and its scope supplement.
Before planning a project that requires accredited testing, it’s worth checking this scope directly: it connects the measurement you need to the laboratory activities that have undergone independent assessment.
Our accreditation number is 129554, and certificate L25-835 lists an expiration date of December 31, 2027, with validity contingent on ongoing assessments.
SOC 2: Supporting trust in data protection
Materials characterization can involve proprietary formulations, product designs, process information, and failure investigation findings. Protecting that information is an essential part of the customer relationship.
Covalent has undergone an independent SOC 2 examination by A-LIGN, based on the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ framework. Our quality page identifies coverage across Security, Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, and Privacy.
SOC 2 is an attestation framework that evaluates organizational controls against defined Trust Services Criteria. Its five categories address how systems are protected, whether services are available as committed, how information is processed, and how confidential information and personal data are handled.
When you’re evaluating an analytical partner, this adds an independent perspective on information controls alongside the assessment of laboratory competence. Both matter when a project involves proprietary intellectual property.
ITAR Registration: Supporting defense and export-controlled projects
Projects involving defense-related materials or technical information bring additional requirements for access and handling.
Covalent is registered with the U.S. Department of State’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations. Our program includes procedures for handling export-controlled technical data, personnel screening and access management, and record retention.
Registration with DDTC is a regulatory status, not an approval for a specific activity. Export licenses or other authorizations may still be required, and registration on its own does not grant export rights.
If you’re planning a defense or export-controlled project, identifying these requirements early helps establish the appropriate conditions for sharing information and carrying out the work.
What these credentials mean for your project
These credentials address three practical questions when choosing a materials characterization partner:
- Laboratory competence: Does the accredited scope cover the testing activity your project requires?
- Information protection: What independent assessment supports the organization’s data controls?
- Controlled project handling: What requirements apply to your samples and technical information?
Working through these questions early helps you scope the investigation correctly and flag any compliance requirements before testing begins.
Day to day, that means documented procedures, trained staff, and regular reassessment against each standard, which is what keeps the credentials current.
Planning a project with specific quality, security, or compliance requirements? Explore our Accreditations, Certifications & Quality page to review the supporting documentation, or talk to a Covalent materials scientist about your testing needs.
