Page 6 - 2015 A2LA AnnualReport

Description of Accreditation Programs

Laboratory Accreditation Table 1.
LABORATORY ACCREDITATION FIELDS AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS
Laboratory accreditation is that part of the conformity assess-
ment process that recognizes the technical competence of * Fields and special programs with additional requirements beyond ISO/IEC 17025
laboratories providing calibration or test data. A2LA accredits
all types of laboratories and thus provides one place where a Calibration * Measurements typically conducted by Environmental * Tests for constituents in various EPA
laboratory may achieve accreditation for all of its testing and standards and calibration laboratories for a variety of environmental media.
calibration activities. measurement quantities.
 Air  Asbestos
A2LA uses ISO/IEC 17025:2005 as the general requirements  Air Emissions Testing  Bioassay
for accreditation of calibration and testing (with the Testing:  Radon
exception of clinical testing) laboratories. A description of
the accreditation process is maintained in A2LA’s document Acoustics & Vibration Tests involving the measurement Bodies (AETBs)  Water
titled R101 - General Requirements: Accreditation of ISO/IEC of noise emission, noise exposure, sound transmission,  DoD Environmental
17025 Laboratories. The laboratory’s commitment to A2LA in sound absorption, and vibration.  Environmental Lead (Pb) *
pursuing accreditation is documented in R102 - Conditions for  Solid/Hazardous Wastes
Accreditation. Biological Biological, microbiological and biochemical  TNI Field Sampling and Measurement Organizations
testing and measurement, including examination of  TX Department of Health Indoor Air Quality*
Because of the needs of users (users of accredited laborato- foods and pharmaceuticals.  Underground Storage Tanks (KY & WY)*
ries) and specifiers (organizations that require accreditation,
including government and private sector entities), specific  Food Microbiology* Forensic Examination * Testing and Inspection activities
technical criteria have been developed to amplify the  Veterinary Diagnostics* which occur during the recognition, collection, analysis,
requirements of the general criteria (e.g. ISO/IEC 17025) for  Cannabis and interpretation of physical evidence for criminal and
several of the programs and fields of testing and calibration. civil law or regulatory purposes.1
Chemical Analyses and detection including instrumen-
Upon successful completion of the accreditation process, tal and automated methods, and associated physical Geotechnical * Tests of soil and rock to provide
a Scope of Accreditation is granted for each field of testing tests on materials and products. engineering data.
which lists specific tests or types of tests for which the labora-
tory has been found competent. For calibration laboratories,  Animal Drug Testing*  Coal  Putting Green Materials*
Scopes of Accreditation include a description of the labora-  Fasteners and Metals*  Fertilizers
tory’s capabilities in terms of measurement parameter, range,  Paint  Food Chemistry* Information Technology * Tests of any aspect of a
calibration & measurement capability (CMC) expressed as an  Consumer Products  Cannabis hardware or software environment.
uncertainty, and technique and/or equipment.  Veterinary Diagnostics*  Anti-Doping*
Mechanical Tests, measurements, and evaluation
A supplement to the application for accreditation (I109 Clinical * Specific clinical laboratory tests on samples of physical properties of materials, components, and
– Fields of Accreditation for ISO/IEC 17025 Laboratories) from humans. (This program is based on ISO 15189 and assemblies.
describes the many technical fields and programs for which CLIA requirements, rather than ISO/IEC 17025.)
a laboratory may apply. These include the programs listed in  Consumer Products  EPA ENERGY STAR*
Table 1. Construction Materials * Tests to determine the engi-  Fasteners and Metals*  Paint
neering properties of materials and products used in  Paper  Plastics
construction.  Rubber  Windows and Doors

Electrical Tests of an electrical and electronic nature Nondestructive* Examination of materials, components,
performed on instruments, equipment, appliances, and assemblies to detect discontinuities without dam-
components, systems, and materials. aging the material, component or assembly.

 EPA ENERGY STAR®*  Wireless Technologies Sustainable Energy Tests for efficient use of energy
 Electrical Product Safety  Lighting/Photometry and tests of products designed to take advantage of
 Telecommunications  Interoperability sustainable and renewable energy sources.

 Electromagnetic  Specific Absorption Rate  EPA ENERGY STAR*

Compatibility (EMC) (SAR) Thermal Tests involving the measurement of fire, heat,
 Hearing Aid Compatibility (HAC) flow, temperature, and humidity.

1 See National Commission on Forensic Science (NCFS) Defining Forensic Science and Related.
(https://www.justice.gov/ncfs/work-products-adopted-commission)

6 2015 Annual Report