SysTest Labs Receives EAC Full Accreditation to Test Voting Systems

SysTest Labs one of two companies in the nation granted full accreditation

Denver, Colo. (February 21, 2007)

The U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) has granted federal accreditation to SysTest Labs, a national leader in software testing and quality assurance, to begin testing voting systems against federal voting system standards and guidelines.

Denver-based SysTest Labs previously held interim accreditation as a full Independent Test Authority (ITA), approved to test both voting software and hardware by the EAC.

"With the 2008 elections on the horizon, voters must be assured that their votes will count and that all votes will be counted accurately," said Brian Phillips, president of SysTest Labs. "Effective testing of electronic voting systems before they are used in elections is essential to the health of our democracy in the 21st century. SysTest Labs is honored to receive accreditation from the EAC and takes its role in the election process very seriously."

Accreditation as a Voting System Test Laboratory (VSTL) is pursuant to stringent standards and procedures dictated by the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) under the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA). The EAC announcement of its final decision to accredit SysTest Labs is based on recommendations submitted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) through its NVLAP.

"The EAC accreditation recognizes SysTest Labs' expertise and commitment to quality in all of our testing work. The accreditation allows us to serve the public interest by ensuring that manufacturers of voting equipment deliver systems that are accurate and reliable," said Jim Nilius, vice president of compliance services for SysTest Labs.

The EAC's accreditation of SysTest Labs represents the first time the federal government has accredited voting system test laboratories. Previously, the National Association of State Election Directors (NASED) performed voting system qualification and laboratory accreditation services.

About SysTest Labs

SysTest Labs is a premier provider of software testing, quality assurance and Independent Verification and Validation services, with a growing portfolio of over 325 commercial and government organizations across North America since its inception in 1996. As an independent testing lab, SysTest Labs has distinguished itself as an accredited Voting System Test Laboratory (VSTL) by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) for the provision of electronic voting system certification testing.

Service offerings include: Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V); Quality Assurance (QA); project management; software certification; on-site software test consulting and engineering; outsourced software test engineering; automated software test support, development, and execution; test and QA management; and load, stress, and performance testing.

For more information, visit www.systest.com or call 303-575-6881