Which behavior is recommendable and safe in the laboratory has evolved steadily with the knowledge about effects and dependencies. For a long time, the nature and scope of measures taken were left to the individual laboratory or company. Processes were defined individually or with business partners. The modern understanding of the term "good laboratory practice" (GLP) as a standard goes back to a 1970s policy of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This policy was developed in response to previously observed irregularities in drug approval procedures. There were cases where documentation of examinations and experimental data did not match. Since then, many countries and institutions have adopted GLP guidelines - including the EU member states. Qualification is an important element in the QM system of laboratories. It enables the comparability of measurement results from different laboratories and is important for international cooperation.
