RMTC Committee Accredits New York Laboratory

The Horseracing Testing Laboratory Committee of the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium met Sept. 9 and voted to fully accredit the New York Drug Testing Laboratory pursuant to the RMTC laboratory accreditation program.

The NYDTL is the eighth lab to become accredited by the RMTC since 2013. NYDTL performs testing for the New York State Gaming Commission on Thoroughbred and Standardbred horses racing in New York.  

With the addition of the New York laboratory, RMTC-accredited laboratories are responsible for the testing of samples for 28 of the 34 pari-mutuel racing jurisdictions in the United States.

"We applaud the New York laboratory for its effort to meet the RMTC laboratory accreditation standards for expertise and proficiency," said RMTC chairman Alex Waldrop. "RMTC accreditation is an important step in creating a safe and level playing field for all racing participants."

Each laboratory receiving RMTC accreditation has first been ISO 17025 certified, which is the international standard for analytical laboratories. Additionally, they must:

•    Submit an application, which is reviewed by an independent auditor;

•    Successfully complete a multi-day laboratory site inspection with an internationally recognized expert in the field; and

•    Pass two rounds of the RMTC External Quality Assurance Program proficiency sample testing, which measures the ability of the laboratory to identify, detect, and quantify (where appropriate) substances of concern in horse racing.