NABL ACCREDITATION

National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) is a Constituent Board of Quality Council of India. NABL has been established with the objective to provide Government, Industry Associations and Industry in general with a scheme for third-party assessment of the quality and technical competence of testing and calibration laboratories.

In order to achieve this objective, NABL provides laboratory accreditation services to laboratories that are performing tests / calibrations in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025:2005 and ISO 15189:2012 for medical laboratories. These services are offered in a non-discriminatory manner and are accessible to all testing and calibration laboratories in India and abroad, regardless of their ownership, legal status, size and degree of independence.

NABL accreditation system complies with ISO/IEC 17011:2004 and Asia Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (APAC) MR001. Based on evaluation of NABL operations by APAC in 2000, NABL has been granted signatory member status by APAC and International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) under their Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRAs). Under these MRAs, the reports issued by NABL accredited laboratories are considered to be equivalent to reports issued by laboratories accredited by (currently) 76 accreditation bodies in 64 economies. NABL has undergone re-evaluation by four member APAC evaluation team in July 2008. APAC/ILAC has recommended NABL’s Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) status for further four years with extension of scope for Medical Testing laboratory as per new international standard ISO 15189:2012.

The users have access to information regarding accredited laboratories through web-based directory of NABL accredited laboratories.

Why laboratory accreditation?

Accreditation is the third party attestation related to a conformity assessment body conveying the formal demonstration of its competence to carry out specific conformity assessment task. Conformity Assessment Body (CAB) is a body which includes Testing including medical Laboratory, Calibration Laboratory, Proficiency Testing Provider, Certified Reference Material Producer.

Laboratory accreditation is a procedure by which an authoritative body gives formal recognition of technical competence for specific tests/ measurements, based on third party assessment and following international standards.

Benefits of Accreditation:

Formal recognition of competence of a conformity assessment body by NABL in accordance with international standard has many advantages:

❖ International recognition,

❖ Time and money efficient,

❖ Enhanced customer confidence and satisfaction,

❖ Robust Quality Management System,

❖ Continual improvements,

❖ Better operational control,

❖ Assurance of accurate and reliable results,

❖ A ready means for customers to identify and select reliable testing that are able to meet their needs.

❖ Increased confidence in Testing Reports issued by the testing laboratories which emphasise on accuracy and reliable results.

❖ Better control of laboratory operations and feedback to laboratories as to whether they have sound Quality Assurance System and are technically competent.

❖ Helpful in participating in tenders that require independently verified laboratories.

❖ Customers can search and identify the laboratories accredited by NABL for their specific requirements from the NABL website or Directory of Accredited Laboratories.

❖ Savings in terms of time and money due to reduction or elimination of the need for re-testing.