BOFFINS at a thriving Bury company are sampling success in the complex proficiency testing market.

And since Aquacheck moved to the town from its previous base, the company has increased its business and taken on more staff at its Barcroft Street headquarters.

Aquacheck provides proficiency testing (PT) samples and services for the analysis of organic and inorganic chemicals in clean and waste waters, sludges and soils.

In this way, the company helps laboratories meet the requirements of accreditation organisations and assists labs to optimise their quality control and analytical performance.

Aquacheck began life in 1985 as a commercial division of the Water Research Centre (WRc), based in Medmenham, Buckinghamshire.

In April 2002, a joint venture company, Aquacheck Ltd, was formed and the whole operation relocated to purpose-built laboratories and offices in Bury.

Since the move to Bury, both the volume of samples prepared and the number of laboratories supported has increased, with 42 new labs from 12 new countries joining in the Aquacheck scheme. And, as a result, additional employment has been created in Bury.

Earlier this year, Aquacheck was awarded UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) accreditation status for PT testing.

Company operations director Cath Fuente said: "We are only the ninth PT provider to reach this standard and the first since the initial pilot scheme was launched in July 2002. Aquacheck has an enviable reputation."