1. NVLAP Dosimetry Accreditation
Organization of Agreement States – August 2012

2. National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP)
NVLAP is:
A system for accrediting laboratories found competent to perform specific tests or calibrations
NVLAP is not :
An operator of a certification program
A certifier of products or personnel
A certifier of test data

3. NVLAP – Regulatory Requirement
15 CFR Part 285 – NVLAP
Department of Commerce regulation
NIST administers NVLAP
Established in 1976

4. NVLAP Accreditation Programs
TESTING - Ionizing Radiation Dosimetry - Radiation Detection Instrument Testing Carpet/Electric Motors/ Lighting/Thermal Insulation/ Fasteners-Metals/EMC-Telecommunications/IT Security/ Asbestos/Acoustics/Construction/ Biometrics/Health IT

5. NVLAP Accreditation Applicant laboratories – any testing laboratory
Government/national testing laboratories
Manufacturer’s testing laboratories
Independent testing laboratories
Domestic testing laboratories
Foreign testing laboratories

6. NVLAP Accreditation
Accrediting body - ISO/IEC 17011, Conformity assessment – General requirements for accreditation bodies accrediting conformity assessment bodies
Accredited laboratories - ISO/IEC 17025, General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories

7. General Accreditation Criteria
NIST Handbook 150, NVLAP Procedures and General Requirements
Ensures consistency with international standards and guidelines, specifically ISO/IEC
Chapter 4, Management Requirements, and Chapter 5, Technical Requirements, are verbatim with ISO/IEC

8. Program-specific Requirements
Program-specific Handbooks
NIST Handbook 150-4, Ionizing Radiation Dosimetry
Consensus standards

9. Dosimetry Standards Consensus standards
ANSI N , Personnel dosimetry Performance – Criteria for Testing (whole body)
ANSI N , Performance Testing of Extremity Dosimeters (extremity)

10. Dosimetry Proficiency Testing
Different radiation categories (see ANSI N13.11 and ANSI N13.32)
Accident photons
Photons/photon mixture
Beta
Photon/beta mixtures
Neutron/photon mixtures

11. Dosimetry Proficiency Testing
Proficiency testing (ANSI N13.11 and ANSI N13.32)
Submit dosimeters for proficiency testing – every 2 years
Test in categories that best represent the services provided

12. NVLAP Accreditation On-site assessment every two years NVLAP Assessors
Quality management system
Technical capabilities
NVLAP Assessors
Technical experts (industry, government, academia)
Trained in assessment techniques

13. NVLAP On-site Assessment
Assessor resources are on NVLAP website
publically available
no surprises for lab
Laboratories resolve all nonconformities to maintain accreditation

14. Dosimetry Accreditation
Dosimeters are NOT accredited
NVLAP does not certify any product
Dosimetry processors are accredited
Scope of accreditation lists the processing equipment, dosimeters, holders and radiation categories

15. Dosimeters Film TLDs (thermoluminescent dosimeters)
OSLs (optically-stimulated luminescence)
EPDs (electronic personal dosimeters)
Instadose (built-in memory chip)

16. Dosimetry Processing
Some dosimeters are not “processed”, but are electronically “read”
Processed
Film / TLDs / OSLs
Not processed
EPDs / Instadose

17. NVLAP Accreditation
All dosimeters types (processed and not processed) have to be submitted for proficiency testing
Dosimeters are pulled from existing inventory and not specially selected
Dosimeter has to “pass” PT in the radiation categories for which lab seeks accreditation

18. NVLAP Accreditation
Accredited laboratory has to have control over data obtained from dosimeter
Clients cannot manipulate/change data used to report dose
Instadose data goes directly to accredited laboratory
Fully automated transfer of data

19. Summary –Dosimetry Processing Accreditation
Any laboratory may apply
Government/national testing laboratories
Manufacturer’s testing laboratories
Independent testing laboratories
Domestic testing laboratories
Foreign testing laboratories

20. Summary –Dosimetry Processing Accreditation
Scope of Accreditation
Dosimetry system
Dosimeter, badge holder, readers
Radiation categories for which the lab seeks accreditation
ANSI N13.11(whole body)
ANSI N13.32 (extremity)

21. Summary –Dosimetry Processing Accreditation
PLEASE REMEMBER
Dosimeters are not accredited.
Laboratories are accredited.

22. Contact Info –
Betty Ann Sandoval
NIST/NVLAP