The industries based on testing, calibration, and medical diagnostics are based on accuracy, reliability, and consistency. There should be no error in such sensitive sectors. This is the reason why NABL accreditation in India is critical in ensuring that the quality and competency of the laboratories are within internationally accepted standards.
At Induce India, we assist laboratories in India to comprehend, attain and sustain NABL accreditation in a practical, step-by-step manner in line with the actual laboratory operation.
What Is NABL Accreditation?
NABL (National Accreditation board of testing and calibration laboratories) is an independent body of Quality council of India. NABL accreditation is the official confirmation that of a laboratory being technically competent to perform certain tests or calibration as per internationally recognized standards.
NABL accredits:
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Testing Laboratories
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Calibration Laboratories
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Medical Laboratories
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Practitioners Providing Proficiency Tests.
The main criteria to be employed are:
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ISO/IEC 17025 – of testing and calibration laboratories.
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Medical laboratory ISO 15189.
A NABL accreditation demonstrates that the technical process, the competence of the staff, the calibration of equipment, the quality controls, and reporting practices in a laboratory are used on the international standards.
What are NABL-Accredited Laboratories?
The NABL accredited labs are the laboratories that have passed the NABL accreditation process successfully and ensured technical competence at all times. These labs adhere to approved test procedures, and have traceability of measurements, are involved in proficiency testing and results are accurate.
Due to this, laboratories with NABL accreditation have their test reports that are largely trusted by:
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Government departments
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Regulatory authorities
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Healthcare facilities and providers
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Manufacturers and exporters
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International agencies
NABL-accredited laboratories are required to provide reports in numerous regulatory approvals, tenders, and legal cases.
NABL-Approved Lab List and Its significance
The NABL-approved lab list is a list of official directories that are published by NABL, which include details of all the accredited labs and the scope of accreditation. Regulators, industries and customers can confirm this list:
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Presence or absence of NABL accreditation of a laboratory.
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The tests or parameters that it is certified to undertake.
The inclusion in the NABL-certified lab list will increase credibility, visibility, and trustworthiness of a laboratory. A good number of clients go to this list when choosing a laboratory, particularly one to do compliance-related testing.
To stay on the active list, the laboratories should continually meet the requirements of the NABL and pass regular surveillance and reassessment audits.
The importance of NABL Accreditation to Laboratories
NABL accreditation is not a certificate, but it is a holistic quality system that enhances the functions of the laboratory. The accreditation assists laboratories:
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Enhance precision and reliability of test scores.
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Minimize technical failures and non-conformities.
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Enhance paperwork and record management.
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Improve the competency and accountability of the staff.
The NABL accreditation is particularly important to the laboratories of controlled industries like pharmaceutical, food hygiene, medical, construction, environmental test, and engineering. It creates trust in the clients and the authorities and paves a way to the government projects, great contracts, and international fame.
NABL Accreditation Process, an Explanation
The NABL accreditation is a systematic procedure that is aimed at assessing the technical and managerial competence. It is usually comprised of the following stages:
Knowledge of Applicable Standard
Determining the standard of NABL and the scope of the accreditation.
Laboratory Preparation
Creation of procedures, staff training, justification of test protocols and quality control.
Application to NABL
Emailing the application and supporting documents.
Assessment by NABL
The NABL uses qualified assessors to assess the technical competence, equipment, personnel, procedures, quality systems and reporting.
Closure of Non-Conformities
Any loopholes found in the process of assessment should be dealt with using corrective measures.
Grant of Accreditation
After compliance has been established, NABL grants the accreditation of the approved scope.
Having NABL Accreditation
NABL accreditation does not take place once. Accredited laboratories are subjected to:
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Regular audit of surveillance.
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Reassessment cycles
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Continued proficiency examination.
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Periodic management reviews and internal audit.
The discipline, uniform application of processes and constant improvement is needed to maintain accreditation.
Who Should have NABL Accreditation?
The NABL accreditation can be applied to a large variety of laboratories, such as:
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Chemical, mechanical, electrical and biological testing laboratories.
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Calibration laboratories
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Diagnostic and medical laboratories.
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Research institutions and service providers.
The organization that requires accurate and reliable test results can enjoy the benefits of doing or getting accredited to an NABL-accredited laboratory.
Contribution of Induce India to NABL Accreditation
We are a reputable compliance consultant at Induce India, which is looking to be NABL accredited lab. We start with our analysis of the laboratory size, its infrastructure and the existing practices.
We assist with:
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Developing a working Quality Management System.
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Preparation and implementation of documentation.
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Training of the staff and internal audit.
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NABL implementation and evaluation.
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Maintenance of post-accreditation system.
We are looking to design systems that are not hard to maintain but are responsive to the real-life running of the laboratory- not theoretical designs.
General Problems in NABL Accreditation
Some of the challenges experienced in many laboratories include:
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Poor or ineffective documentation.
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Lack of knowledge on NABL technical requirements.
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Enterprise systems introduced on paper, not practice.
Induce India assists laboratories with clear guidance, real life implementation support and timely corrective measures which contribute significantly to the increase in success rates and decrease in stress during assessment.
