NATIONAL ACCREDITATION BOARD FOR TESTING & CALIBRATIONLABORATORIES (NABL)
NATIONAL ACCREDITATION BOARD
FOR TESTING &
CALIBRATIONLABORATORIES (NABL)
National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) is the sole
Laboratory Accreditation body authorised by Government of India (COD).
NABL is an autonomous body under the aegis of Department of Science & Technology
(COD).
NABL has agreements with ILAC (International Laboratory Accreditation Conference) and
APLAC (Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation).
These are especially valuable for International recognition and mutual acceptance of
test results. In short accreditation has worldwide acceptance.
This developing system of international mutual recognition agreements between
accreditation bodies has enabled accredited laboratories to achieve a form of
international recognition, and allowed test data accompanying exported goods to be
readily accepted on overseas markets amongst the countries which have already
qualified as significant to ILAC Arrangements.
FUNCTIONS
To promote the development and
maintenance of good practice in testing
and measuring
To establish and maintain international
recognition for its national accreditation
programmes
BENEFITS
National and international recognition
Public and industry acceptance
Assurance to clients of good laboratory practice
Provides global equivalence
Provides comparability in measurements
Decision makers can rely on test results
Improves staff motivation
Ensures better support in the event of legal challenge
Saves money by getting it right at first time.
PROCEDURE FOR ACCREDITATION
Accreditation Process An applicant laboratory is expected to submit to NABL 5
copies of the application and 5 copies of Quality Manual.
The Quality Manual will be forwarded by NABL to a Lead Assessor to judge the
adequacy of the Quality Manual as to whether it is in compliance with ISO
15189 standards.
Thereafter the Lead Assessor will conduct a PreAssessment of the laboratory for
one day. Based on the Pre-Assessment report the laboratory may have to take
certain corrective actions, so as to be fully prepared for the final assessment.
It is essential for the applicant as well as accredited laboratories to satisfactorily
participate in Proficiency testing/ Interlaboratory comparisons/External quality
assessment programme as Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation
(APLAC) Mutual Recognition Arrangement calls for mandatory participation in
such programmes.
PROCEDURE FOR ACCREDITATION
Finally when the laboratory is ready, the Lead Assessor and a team of technical
assessors will conduct the final assessment. The number of technical assessors
will depend on the number of disciplines applied for. The accreditation process
involves a thorough assessment of all the elements of the laboratory that
contribute to the production of accurate and reliable test data. These
elements include staffing, training, supervision, quality control, equipment,
recording and reporting of test results and the environment in which the
laboratory operates. The laboratory may have to take certain corrective
actions, after the final assessment.
After satisfactory corrective actions are taken by the laboratory (within a
period of 3 months), the Accreditation Committee will examine the report and
if satisfied recommend accreditation.
PROCEDURE FOR ACCREDITATION
The time required for the process of accreditation will depend upon the
preparedness of the laboratory and its response to the non-conformances
raised during the pre-assessment and final assessment. The total duration
ranges between 6 and 8 months. Surveillance and Re-Assessment
Accreditation to a laboratory shall be valid for a period of three years.
NABL shall conduct annual surveillance of the accredited laboratories.
The laboratories may enhance or reduce the scope of accreditation
during surveillance. The laboratories need to apply for renewal of
accreditation, at least six months before the expiry of validity of
accreditation for which a re-assessment
Thank You
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