National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories

National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) is an autonomous body under the aegis of Department of Science & Technology, Government of India, and is registered under the Societies Act. NABL has been established with the objective to provide Government, Industry and Society in general with a scheme for third-party assessment of the quality and technical competence of testing and calibration laboratories. Government of India has authorized NABL as the sole accreditation body for Testing and Calibration laboratories.

In order to achieve this objective, NABL provides laboratory accreditation services to laboratories that are performing tests / calibrations in accordance with NABL criteria based on internationally accepted standard for laboratory accreditation ISO/IEC 17025. These services are offered in a non-discriminatory manner and are accessible to all testing and calibration laboratories in India and abroad, regardless of their ownership, legal status, size and degree of independence.

The concept of Laboratory Accreditation was developed to provide a means for third-party certification of the competence of laboratories to perform specific type(s) of testing and calibration.

Laboratory Accreditation provides formal recognition of competent laboratories, thus providing a ready means for customers to find reliable testing and calibration services in order to meet their demands.

Laboratory Accreditation enhances customer confidence in accepting testing / calibration reports issued by accredited laboratories. The globalization of Indian economy and the liberalization policies initiated by the Government in reducing trade barriers and providing greater thrust to exports makes it imperative for Accredited Laboratories to be at international level of competence.

Laboratory Accreditation provides formal recognition of competent laboratories, thus providing a ready means for customers to find reliable testing and calibration services in order to meet their demands.

Laboratory Accreditation enhances customer confidence in accepting testing / calibration reports issued by accredited laboratories. Society also needs to know the technically competent laboratory in fields such as Medical, Forensic, Food Testing etc.

The globalization of Indian economy and the liberalization policies initiated by the Government in reducing trade barriers and providing greater thrust to exports makes it imperative for Accredited Laboratories to be at international level of competence.

Potential increase in business due to enhanced customer confidence and satisfaction. Savings in terms of time and money due to reduction or elimination of the need for re-testing of products.

Better control of laboratory operations and feedback to laboratories as to whether they have sound Quality Assurance System and are technically competent. Increase of confidence in Testing / Calibration data and personnel performing work. Customers can search and identify the laboratories accredited by NABL for their specific requirements from the directory of Accredited Laboratories. Users of accredited laboratories will enjoy greater access for their products, in both domestic and international markets, when tested by accredited laboratories.

• Formal recognition of competence of a laboratory by an Accreditation body in accordance with international criteria provides a ready means for customers to identify and select reliable testing, measurement and calibration services.
• Marketing advantage: Accreditation body publish directory of their accredited laboratories- a potential means of promoting a laboratories accredited services to potential clients.
• Savings in terms of time and money due to reduction or elimination of the need for re-testing of products. The uniform approach for determining laboratory competence encourages laboratories to adopt internationally accepted testing and measurement practices. This effectively reduces costs for both the manufacturer and the importer, as it reduces or eliminates the need for products to be retested in another country.
• Better control of laboratory operations: Incorporation of the systematic approach of relevant standard in working of laboratory provides better control of laboratory operations.
• Benchmark for performance: A regular assessment by an accreditation body as per international standard checks all aspects of facility’s operation consistently producing accurate and dependable data. Therefore raises the performance level to the appropriate international standard.
• Ease of operation: Customers can search and identify the laboratories accredited by NABL for their specific requirements from the Directory of Accredited Laboratories.
• Users of accredited laboratories will enjoy greater access for their products, in both domestic and international markets, when the products are tested by accredited laboratories as the test data is accepted in the national and international markets. This can lead to potential increase in business due to enhanced customer confidence and satisfaction.
• International recognition for laboratory: Laboratory accreditation is highly regarded both nationally and internationally as reliable indicator of technical competence. Mutual recognition agreements (MRAs) among the countries enable test and calibration data produced by accredited laboratories to be accepted between these countries.