The Benefits of National Accreditation Steve Arms The NELAC Institute TNI

The NELAC Institute’s Mission To foster the generation of environmental data of known and documented quality through an open, inclusive, and transparent process that is responsive to the needs of the community

The NELAC Institute’s Vision for the Future A true national accreditation program, whereby all entities involved in the generation of environmental measurement data within the United States are accredited to one uniform, rigorous, and robust program that has been implemented consistently nationwide and focuses on the technical competence of the entity pursuing accreditation

TNI’s Accreditation Programs  Designed to ensured competency  Intended to ensure environmental data of known and documented quality An objective way of showing clients, the community and the government that an organization has the demonstrated capability to conduct the services they provide.

National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (NELAP) Program components:  The recognition of accreditation bodies  The adoption of acceptance limits for proficiency testing  The adoption of consensus standards for use in the program  The adoption of the laboratory accreditation system To establish and implement a program for the accreditation of environmental laboratories

National Environmental Field Accreditation Program (NEFAP) To establish and implement a program for the accreditation of field sampling and measurement organizations (FSMOs) Program components:  The recognition of accreditation bodies  The development and adoption of the accreditation system TNI is also pursuing the development of standards for assuring the competency of organizations involved in stationary source air emissions testing.

NELAP Accreditation Unique  Based on an internationally recognized standard expanded to focus on unique aspects of environmental testing  Performed with respect to a specific scope of accreditation conducted by qualified assessors  Involves review of results of periodic proficiency testing performed by the laboratory

NELAP Accreditation Extensive  Over 1500 accredited laboratories  Over 2000 accreditations  48 states and 1 territory  8 foreign countries

Laboratory Accreditation System Program  Develops a system for the accreditation of environmental laboratories:  Policies and procedures, interpretations, guidance documents, and related tools for use by Accreditation Bodies to implement a national environmental laboratory accreditation program.  Reviews standards for suitability  Subcommittee:  National Database Committee

Our Heritage... SDWA Certification Program 1978 State Programs expand into other media CLP De-facto National Program NELAC Restructure Explore Self Sufficiency 2003 NELAC Standard November 6, ’s

The 2003 NELAC Standard Strengths  Uses ISO quality system approach  Adds specificity to improve clarity and help with consistency for environmental testing  Allows flexibility in meeting requirements  Represents best professional practice  Allows for multiple Accreditation Bodies to implement consistently

The 2003 NELAC Standard Weaknesses  Refers to an organization that no longer exists  Hard to find all the laboratory requirements  Written by chemists for chemists  Some language could be improved  Not a true consensus standard  Does not incorporate ISO for Accreditation Bodies  Muddled and outdated version of ISO 17025

A New Approach  Start with the purpose of an accreditation program  Ensure key elements are retained  Consider the following goals:  Easy to use and understand  Easy to grow and expand  Easy to revise and implement  Applicable to all laboratories

Basis of the New Standard  International Standards  ISO  ISO  ISO Guide 43  Work of NELAC from  Significant input from TNI membership during consensus voting process

Benefits of New Laboratory Standards  Removal of outdated NELAC language  Incorporation of ISO  Incorporation of current version of ISO  Volume/Modular approach simplifies understanding  Improved clarity of Technical Requirements  Increased flexibility  Very few new requirements  True consensus standard!!!

Format of the New Standard  Sector  Identifiable accreditation program with unique requirements, e.g., NELAP  Volume  Key elements of an accreditation program for a particular sector  Module  Specific requirements combined with other modules to create a volume

2008 TNI Standards  Volume 1 Laboratory Requirements  Module 1: Proficiency Testing  Module 2: Quality Systems General Requirements  Module 3: Asbestos Testing  Module 4: Chemical Testing  Module 5: Microbiological Testing  Module 6: Radiochemical Testing  Module 7: Toxicity Testing  Volume 2 Accreditation Body Requirements  Module 1 – General Requirements  Module 3 – On-Site Assessment  Module 2: Proficiency Testing  Volume 3 Proficiency Test Provider Requirements  Volume 4 Proficiency Testing Oversight

Benefits for the Public Confidence  Health and environment are being protected using reliable, authentic data  A recognized concept  Hospitals  Universities  Forensic laboratories

Benefits for Data Users Consumer Protection  Assurance that the laboratory has been evaluated and has met established standards  Reduces risks associated with unreliable data  Expensive re-testing  Legal or financial liability  Regulatory acceptance of data

Benefits for the Profession Advances the Field  Uniform standards of practice  A venue to share knowledge  Professional interaction in consensus  Forum for improvement

Benefits for Agencies Assurance that data is adequate for use  Dependable environmental decisions based on data that is:  Accurate  Traceable  Reproducible  Reduced uncertainty  Increased public confidence in governmental management of the environment

Benefits for Agencies Efficient allocation of resources  A single set of standards to manage  Cost effective  Data can be used by multiple stakeholders  Redundant assessments by QA oversight bodies can be reduced

Benefits for Agencies Efficient allocation of resources  Reduced direct costs due to “problems”  Less re-testing  Less re-sampling  Less lost time  Fewer false positives and negatives  Reduced effort needed to define project expectations and requirements  More constant baseline expectations for environmental projects  More efficient communications regarding Data Quality Objectives and project deliverables

Benefits for the Organization Self-evaluation  Improved training program and communication  Improved processes and procedures  Improved internal consistency  Reduction in QC incidents, rejections and complaints

Benefits for the Organization Self-evaluation  Promotes continuous improvement attitude  Effective system for accountability  Reputation benchmark for maintaining competence  Improved employee quality awareness  A Better Quality System!

Benefits for the Organization and for Accreditation Bodies A Nationally Consistent Standard  An industry hindered by political boundaries  Opportunities for reciprocity and recognition  Removal of barriers  Reduced time and expense caused by redundancy

The Florida Experience  All environmental testing laboratories are held to the same standard  Assessment consistency has improved  Marginal labs have become acceptable  Environmental decisions are now clearly traceable to documented data  Benefits of mutual recognition realized

A Self-Nourishing Concept Opportunities for Quality Improvements  The TNI standards development process encourages pooling of expertise from multiple governmental agencies and private sector groups.  A larger scope of expertise strengthens the quality concepts and practices upon which the standards are based.  Having additional requirements for laboratory assessments facilitates the expansion of the scope of accreditation programs and improves the abilities of the assessors.  Result: better assessments and ultimately better laboratories and data!

Thank You!