NABL ACCREDITATION

Who is accredited by NABL? NABL provides accreditation for various types of "Conformity Assessment Bodies" (CABs), including: Testing Laboratories: Accredited based on the ISO/IEC 17025 standard. Calibration Laboratories: Also accredited based on the ISO/IEC 17025 standard. Medical Laboratories: Accredited based on the ISO 15189 standard. Proficiency Testing Providers (PTP): Accredited based on the ISO/IEC 17043 standard. Reference Material Producers (RMP): Accredited based on the ISO 17034 standard. Biobanks: Accredited based on the ISO 20387 standard. Benefits of NABL accreditation The accreditation process provides formal recognition that a laboratory is technically competent to perform specific tasks, offering several key advantages: Increased confidence: It provides assurance that testing, calibration, and medical reports are accurate and reliable. International recognition: NABL is a signatory to the Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRAs) of the Asia Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (APAC) and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC). This allows test data to be accepted more easily in international markets. Market access: Customers, both domestic and international, can readily identify and select accredited laboratories. This can lead to increased business for the accredited labs. Regulatory compliance: NABL accreditation is recognized by various government bodies and regulators, such as the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). Improved quality: The process involves a rigorous assessment of the lab's quality management system, infrastructure, equipment, and personnel competence, leading to continuous improvement. Cost savings: Reduces or eliminates the need for products to be re-tested in other countries, saving time and money for manufacturers and exporters The accreditation process The NABL accreditation process is thorough and involves multiple steps: Application: The Conformity Assessment Body (CAB) submits an application with all required documents to NABL. Document Review: An NABL-appointed lead assessor reviews the application and the lab's quality manual. Pre-Assessment: An optional visit to the lab is conducted to check the preparedness for the final assessment. Final Assessment: A team of assessors visits the lab to verify compliance with the relevant international standards (e.g., ISO/IEC 17025). Corrective Actions: The lab addresses any non-conformities identified by the assessment team. Recommendation and Approval: The Accreditation Committee reviews the assessment report and recommends granting accreditation. Grant of Certificate: The lab receives its accreditation certificate, which is valid for four years. Surveillance: NABL conducts surveillance assessments annually to ensure continued compliance with the standards.