We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Training

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Are the Different Types of Laboratory Accreditation?

By Valerie Clark
Updated: Mar 03, 2024
Views: 12,757
Share

There are different types of laboratory accreditation for just about every type of laboratory, and the accreditation required of any one lab depends on the experimental methods and materials used in the lab, as well as any occupational hazards. While most types of accreditation are recognized at a national level, there also are some international laboratory accreditation agencies. In general, laboratory accreditation is available for testing facilities, product certification companies and proficiency testing sites. Other areas of accreditation involve calibration, inspection and reference material providers. Accreditation is vital to the success of any laboratory involved in testing, inspecting or producing products that are intended for human use or exposure.

Most accreditation agencies are non-profit, public service providers that require membership. The International Laboratory Accreditation Corporation (ILAC) is involved in developing accreditation systems, harmonizing accreditation efforts worldwide, and the ILAC agreement, which affords global recognition of testing, inspection and calibration data for those organizations bearing ILAC approval. The American Association of Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) provides a similar framework on a national scale. National programs can vary greatly from one country to the next in their requirements for a successful inspection and subsequent accreditation. To maintain accreditation status, most agencies will perform routine inspections to ensure continued compliance.

Clinical research laboratories and environmental science laboratories are typically accredited as a means of earning nationwide credibility for their work. Companies involved in testing or inspecting strive for accreditation to increase consumer confidence. It is one thing to have a “certified” product, but if the certifying body isn’t accredited, the stamp of approval is less valuable. Most successful research and testing facilities bear multiple accreditations as a way of further boosting client confidence and establishing trust in the marketplace.

Laboratory accreditation is a must for some common industry-specific programs, such as energy efficiency, animal research and product safety. Most of these programs are trusted and supported by the government because they are accredited by a reputable agency. Other programs are in place for waste water treatment facilities, food testing laboratories and air quality testing.

Getting laboratory accreditation involves the ability to interpret the accrediting agency’s guidelines for compliance. There may be accreditation-related training programs available for assistance. An accredited laboratory is generally regarded as having high standards and high quality. The path to accreditation can provide a basic framework for developing standard operating procedures (SOPs) and quality assurance (QA) inspections during the early developmental stages of the business. Special documentation may be required prior to gaining full accreditation.

Share
Practical Adult Insights is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.practicaladultinsights.com/what-are-the-different-types-of-laboratory-accreditation.htm
Copy this link
Practical Adult Insights, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

Practical Adult Insights, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.