NIST National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program: What's New

What's New!

News Items

Fall 2009 Issue of NVLAP News Available

NVLAP Signs IAAC MLA

NIWS 3.1 Released!

New APLAC Document on Uncertainty of Measurement

Solid State Lighting Accreditation Offered

Biometrics Testing Program

NVLAP Radiation Detection Instruments Program

NVLAP Personal Body Armor Program

Accreditation vs. Certification

Fall 2009 Issue of NVLAP News Available

The Fall 2009 issue of NVLAP News is now available on our web site. Click here to read the latest news.

This newsletter is e-mailed to laboratories enrolled in the NVLAP program and to NVLAP assessors and technical experts. For back issues of NVLAP News, please visit our Publications page.

Posted November 4, 2009

NEW NVLAP Signs IAAC MLA

The National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) has been accepted as a signatory to the Inter American Accreditation Cooperation (IAAC) Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA). At a signing ceremony held on September 4, 2009 at the IAAC 14th General Assembly in San Jose, Costa Rica, NVLAP was recognized as an MLA member with a scope in testing and calibration laboratories. The IAAC is an association of accreditation bodies and other organizations interested in conformity assessment in the Americas.

Accreditation bodies that are signatories to the IAAC MLA agree to recognize the accreditations issued by each other. Such a system of mutual recognition of accreditations is based upon the proper operation of the accreditation systems of the bodies that join the arrangement. By reducing the need for multiple assessments, the MLA facilitates international trade by encouraging regional and worldwide acceptance of test and calibration results issued by its signatory accreditation bodies.

Representing NVLAP at the 2009 IAAC meetings were Sally Bruce, Chief of NVLAP; Barbara Belzer, NVLAP Calibration Laboratories Program Manager; and Ileana Martinez, Global Standards and Information Group, NIST, who also serves as an International Affairs Specialist for NVLAP.

Posted September 22, 2009

NIWS 3.1 Released!

Based upon customer feedback, the NVLAP Interactive Web Site (NIWS) continues to be enhanced. The latest NIWS Home Page serves as a hub, clearly directing the user step-by-step through the application process. NIWS 3.1 is available to laboratories enrolled in the following programs:

Acoustical Testing
Airborne & Bulk Asbestos
Carpet & Carpet Cushion
Commercial Products
Electromagnetic Compatibility & Telecommunications
Energy Efficient Lighting Products.

More programs will be brought on-line as development proceeds. If a laboratory submits its application for accreditation through the NIWS, it will not have to mail a paper application to NVLAP. Supporting documents, such as quality manuals, may be securely uploaded through this web-based system.

Laboratories that are eligible to renew their accreditations on-line will be notified in their renewal packages.

Please note that the NIWS is open for use annually and ONLY at a laboratory's renewal time. It is not available for changes in scopes of accreditation that are requested between renewal anniversary dates.

For more information, visit the NVLAP Interactive Web Site (NIWS) web page or contact NIWSHELP@nist.gov.

Posted July 17, 2009; Updated August 14, 2008

New APLAC Document on Uncertainty of Measurement

The Technical Committee of the Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (APLAC) has issued a new document, APLAC TC 010, as part of its TC Series to provide guidance to members and other organizations on specific technical issues related to accreditation. APLAC TC 010, issued February 2009, is entitled, General Information on Uncertainty of Measurement: For those relying on test results to make informed decisions and judgments.

The document is intended to be a brief explanation of uncertainty of measurement "for the lay person." Accredited laboratories will be able to give this document to their clients to assist with their understanding of this subject. NVLAP program management believes that the information in this document is useful to share with our assessors and laboratories.

Posted May 4, 2009

Solid State Lighting Accreditation Offered

Beginning March 5, 2009, NVLAP is accepting applications for Solid State Lighting (SSL) test methods as part of the Energy Efficient Lighting Products laboratory accreditation program. Technical requirements and guidance for the accreditation of laboratories that test solid state lighting products and LED sources have been published in a new handbook, NIST Handbook 150-1A, Energy Efficient Lighting Products Solid State Lighting, and its corresponding checklist. In addition, SSL test methods are now listed on the EEL Test Method Selection List.

Initial accreditation to SSL test methods, or adding these methods to a current EEL scope of accreditation, requires an on-site assessment. Laboratories currently accredited by NVLAP may request an on-site assessment by submitting a completed Program-Specific Application (EEL Test Method Selection List) and payment of the assessment fee. Laboratories should contact NVLAP for the fee estimate.

Laboratories not accredited by NVLAP must go through the complete application process as specified in NIST Handbook 150.

See NVLAP Lab Bulletin LB-38-2009 for additional information. Questions concerning the EEL requirements for accreditation should be directed to Jon Crickenberger at 301-975-5305, or jon.crickenberger@nist.gov.

Posted March 5, 2009

Biometrics Testing Program

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has requested establishment of the Biometrics Laboratory Accreditation Program (Biometrics LAP) by the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) to accredit laboratories that perform conformance testing, interoperability testing, technology testing, scenario testing, and operational and usability testing for biometrics products (systems and subsystems) as defined in nationally and internationally recognized biometrics products testing standards of biometric systems and subsystems. The program will offer accreditation only in the areas where a need was expressed and the requirements have been provided, but it is designed to easily expand and accommodate requirements from any interested governmental agency or the private sector.

Laboratory accreditation requirements are derived from the elected scope(s) of accreditation. NIST Handbook 150 and NIST Handbook 150-25 govern the general and specific technical requirements for accreditation under the Biometrics LAP.

Questions about NIST Handbook 150-25 may be directed to Brad Moore, Biometrics LAP Program Manager at 301-975-5740 or brad.moore@nist.gov.

Posted October 3, 2008; updated December 23, 2008; updated October 2, 2009


NVLAP Radiation Detection Instruments Program The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requested that NIST establish a laboratory accreditation program for laboratories that test radiation detection instruments used in homeland security applications. In response to the request by DHS, and after consultation with interested parties through public workshops and other means, the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) has agreed to establish the accreditation program. NVLAP will accept applications from laboratories that perform testing of radiation detection instruments, such as handheld detectors, radionuclide identifiers, and portal monitors, using standards developed by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and the DHS. If you would like more information on the Radiation Detection Instruments program, please contact Betty Ann Sandoval at betty.sandoval@nist.gov or (301) 975-8446. Posted March 20, 2007
NVLAP Personal Body Armor Program NVLAP has agreed to establish a laboratory accreditation program to support the voluntary minimum performance standard for the ballistic- and stab-resistance of personal body armor, developed for the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) by the NIST Office of Law Enforcement Standards (OLES). The program will address ballistic- and stab-resistant body armor submitted to the NIJ/National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center (NLECTC) for testing and certification in accordance with applicable NIJ standards. Laboratory test results will be used for the purposes of preparing NIJ?s Personal Body Armor Consumer Product List. NVLAP-accredited laboratories testing the equipment for certification by NLECTC must be independent of body armor manufacturers, NIJ, NLECTC, and OLES, and be able to perform all of the selected tests as specified in the applicable NIJ standard. If you would like more information on the Personal Body Armor Program, please contact Hazel M. Richmond at hazel.richmond@nist.gov or (301) 975-3024. Posted February 16, 2007
Accreditation vs. Certification The terms "accreditation" and "certification" are sometimes used interchangeably, however, they are not synonymous. Certification is used for verifying that personnel have adequate credentials to practice certain disciplines, as well as for verifying that products meet certain requirements. NVLAP is a system for accrediting laboratories found competent to perform specific tests or calibrations or types of tests or calibrations. NVLAP is not a certifier of test data, a certifier of products, or an operator of a certification program. Accreditation is used to verify that laboratories have an appropriate quality management system and can properly perform certain test methods (e.g., ANSI, ASTM, and ISO test methods) and calibration parameters according to their scopes of accreditation. NVLAP accreditation covers both the management system of a laboratory and the technical capabilities of a laboratory. The assessment of laboratories is performed to check compliance with the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025, General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories. NVLAP, as a member of the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) and a signatory to the ILAC Mutual Recognition Arrangement, performs the assessment and offers accreditation services in conformance with the requirements of ISO/IEC 17011, Conformity assessment - General requirements for accreditation bodies accrediting conformity assessment bodies. Upon satisfactory assessment and successful completion of proficiency testing (where applicable), the laboratory is issued a Certificate of Accreditation along with a Scope of Accreditation listing the test methods or calibration parameters that the laboratory is accredited to perform. The NVLAP accreditation period is one year. To renew its accreditation, a laboratory must demonstrate that it continues to satisfy all NVLAP requirements for accreditation. Please visit the following links for additional resources and information about these conformity assessment terms: John W. Locke, "Words Matter: Registration, certification or accreditation?," Quality Digest, available at <http://www.qualitydigest.com/feb03/departments/lastword.shtml>. Peter Unger, "Accreditation or Registration?," available at <http://ts.nist.gov/Standards/Accreditation/upload/Accreditation-vs-Registration.pdf>. For more information about NVLAP accreditation, visit the NVLAP website at http://www.nist.gov/nvlap . Posted February 5, 2007

Date created: January 02, 1999 Last updated: September 22, 2009