National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories

NABL is a Full member (ILAC MRA signatory) to ILAC{{cite web|title=ILAC Signatory|url=http://ilac.org/signatory-detail/?id=31|website=ILAC|language=en|date=25 January 2018}} as well as APAC Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRA),{{cite web|title=APAC MRA Signatory|url=https://www.apac-accreditation.org/membership/|website=APAC|language=en|date=12 May 2012}} based on mutual evaluation and acceptance of other MRA Partner laboratory accreditation systems. Such international arrangements facilitate acceptance of test / calibration results between countries to which MRA partners represent.

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.{{cite journal| title=Quality Infrastructure of India and Its Importance for Inclusive National Growth| journal=MAPAN-Journal Metrology Society of India| first=DK| last=Aswal| doi=10.1007/s12647-020-00376-3| issue=2| date=30 May 2020| volume=35| pages=139–150| pmc=7261038}} This effectively reduces costs for both the exporters and the importers, as it reduces or eliminates the need for products to be re-tested in another country.

NABL accreditation is the recognised by various government bodies{{Cite web|url=https://theprint.in/india/supreme-court-directs-approved-govt-private-labs-to-conduct-free-testing-for-covid-19/398104/|title=Supreme Court directs approved govt, private labs to conduct free testing for Covid-19|date=8 April 2020| work=The Print}} and regulators. In India, NABL accreditation is usually the precursor to various government/ regulator/ statutory body recognition's.

NABL being a governmental accreditation body conducts integrated assessments with regulators such as FSSAI, EIC, APEDA, etc. Integrated assessments simplify the process of recognition, as the laboratory can get accredited and recognized by the regulator in one combined assessment instead of the separate multiple assessments which are usually needed.{{cite journal| url=https://www.ijpmonline.org/article.asp?issn=0377-4929;year=2018;volume=61;issue=3;spage=461;epage=463;aulast=Sinha| title=Current status and way forward for National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories Accreditation of Laboratories in Government Organizations| journal=Indian Journal of Pathology and Microbiology| doi=10.4103/IJPM.IJPM_630_17| pmid=30004086| date=2018| volume=61| issue=3| vauthors=Sinha M, Saini S, et al.| pages=461–463| s2cid=51623808| doi-access=free}}{{cite journal| title=Assessment of quality control system by sigma metrics and quality goal index ratio: A roadmap towards preparation for NABL| journal=World Journal of Methodology| last1=Verma| first1=M| last2=Dahiya| first2=K| last3=Ghalaut| first3=VS| last4=Dhupper| first4=V| date=2018| volume=8| issue=3| pages=44–50| doi=10.5662/wjm.v8.i3.44| pmid=30519539| pmc=6275555| doi-access=free}}{{cite journal| url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0272271212000352| title=Clinical laboratory accreditation in India| journal=Clinics in Laboratory Medicine| date=June 2012| volume=32| issue=2| doi=10.1016/j.cll.2012.04.009| pmid=22727005| first1=Anil| last1=Handoo| first2=Swaroop Krishan| last2=Sood| pages=281–292| url-access=subscription}}{{cite journal| url=https://www.indmedica.com/journals.php?journalid=6&issueid=104&articleid=1440&action=article| title=ISO/IEC 17025:1999 - Compliance to Clinical Laboratory and Process of Accreditation| journal=Journal of the Academy of Hospital Administration| first1=Umanath| last1=V| first2=Nasna Rasheeda| last2=Alam| first3=Vidya Gayathri| last3=A| volume=18| issue=1}}

NABL provides accreditation to:

1. Testing laboratories as per ISO/IEC 17025
2. Calibration laboratories as per ISO/IEC 17025
3. Medical testing laboratories as per ISO 15189
4. Proficiency Testing Providers (PTP) as per ISO/IEC 17043
5. Reference Material Producers (RMP) as per ISO 17034
6. Biobanking as per ISO 20387

NABL conducts laboratory conclaves yearly.{{Cite web|url=https://epaper.sakshi.com/2463666/Chennai-City/15-12-2019#page/4/1|title=Sakshi Telugu Daily Chennai City epaper dated Sun, 15 Dec 19|website=epaper.sakshi.com|language=Telugu}} In 2019, the 8th National Conclave for Laboratories was conducted in Chennai.{{Cite web|url=https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=TOICH/2019/12/19&entity=Ar00915&sk=D629BA8E&mode=text|title=Annual national conclave of NABL|work=The Times of India}}

NABL celebrates World Accreditation Day (WAD) every year on 9 June. World accreditation day is celebrated to provide awareness on accreditation and how accreditation benefits its stakeholders.{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/sme-sector/qci-celebrates-the-world-accreditation-day-focuses-on-improving-food-safety/articleshow/76296207.cms?from=mdr|title=World Accreditation Day celebration|newspaper=The Economic Times|date=10 June 2020 |language=English}}

NABL's scope for accreditation extends to:-

Testing Laboratories:

Biological, Chemical, Diagnostic Radiology QA testing, Electrical, Electronics, Fluid-Flow, Forensic, Mechanical, Non-Destructive testing, Photometry, Radiological and Software & IT system testing.

Calibration Laboratories:

Electro-Technical, Mechanical, Fluid Flow, Thermal & Optical, Radiological, Thermal.

Medical Laboratories:

Clinical Biochemistry, Clinical Pathology, Haematology and Immuno-haematology, Microbiology and Infectious Disease Serology, Molecular Testing, Medical Imaging, Histopathology, Cytopathology, Flow cytometry, Cytogenetics, Genetics, Nuclear Medicine (in-vitro tests only).

Laboratories seeking NABL Accreditation can apply on NABL Web Portal.

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• [https://nabl-india.org/ Official website]

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Category:Government agencies of India

Category:Accreditation organizations