Separate the causes
Same article, different samples
A hanger, pilot sample and finished bulk roll are not interchangeable. Compare article, colour, lot, finish stage, sampling position and specimen direction. If identities differ, label the results separately; do not infer repeatability from different materials.
Same test name, different procedures
A report headed pilling or shrinkage can use different methods, cycles or care treatments. Ask for the method and edition, specimen preparation, load or endpoint, conditioning, units and deviations. Comparable headings do not make the underlying numbers comparable.
Equivalent basis, conflicting outcome
Request individual results and the method's precision information where applicable, rather than just pass/fail. Check reporting or transcription errors first. If the difference remains, arrange representative coded split samples and a pre-agreed referee procedure; accreditation alone does not settle this sample's result.
Steps before deciding
- Place both reports beside the written requirement and identify which decision is blocked: development selection, bulk release or a complaint.
- Reconcile sample and roll identities, finish stage, direction and sampling records before comparing numbers.
- Ask both laboratories to confirm method edition, settings, conditioning, units, individual results and declared deviations.
- Agree who selects representative split samples, how they are coded, the retained reference and which procedure will govern the retest.
- Record the acceptance criterion and decision rule before results arrive. Document review, retest cost and release owner; do not keep testing until one report passes.
Worked example
Hypothetical example: a purchase requirement allows at most 3% length shrinkage under a named care method. Report A says 2.8% and report B 3.4%. Their average, 3.1%, is not a new valid test result. If care cycles or lots differ, compare neither with the other as a repeat test. If the basis matches, ask the laboratories about precision and the agreed decision rule, then retest representative split samples. The 3% threshold is illustrative, not a Fred Textile specification or a universal wool limit.
Buyer questions
Does an accredited lab automatically win the dispute?
No. Check whether the relevant method is in its accreditation scope and whether the sample and report match the order. Accreditation supports competence; it does not remove sample differences.
Can we replace the failed result with a passing retest?
Only under an agreed review and acceptance procedure. Keep both original reports and the retest record. A passing sample should not be used to conceal an unresolved lot difference.
Discuss the evidence with Fred Textile
Send Fred Textile both full reports, the order requirement, sample and roll IDs, sampling records and known preparation differences. Ask for a comparison sheet and jointly agreed retest plan. Do not send private customer details that are unnecessary for identifying the fabric.
Reference and limits
Reference listing only. Agree the actual procedure with the laboratory. This guide is not a Fred Textile test report.
ASTM D1776/D1776M: Textile Conditioning ↗