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How to Become an Accredited Laboratory

Review the Flow Chart TNI has developed to help you. Review the list of recognized NELAP Accreditation Bodies (NELAP AB) and Non-Governmental Accreditation Bodies (NGABs).

If your laboratory is located within a state with a NELAP-recognized Accreditation Body, you must go to that state for accreditation.

If your laboratory is in another state or country, you can choose to apply to any NELAP AB or a NGAB. Be careful of these facts:

  • Some states only offer accreditation in some areas, e.g., only drinking water.
  • Some states will not accredit out-of-state laboratories.
  • Some states will not accept accreditations from NGABs.

Review the scope of the accreditation program of each AB relative to your scope of services and select an AB to apply to for primary accreditation.

Read the specific rules and regulations for how to apply.

Read the 2016 TNI Standard and implement a program to comply with the requirements. A good first step is to write your Quality Manual.

Do an internal gap analysis using the Quality Systems Checklist for the 2016 TNI Laboratory Standard.

Note: For laboratories that have never been accredited, this is usually a 12-18 month process.

 

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The new TNI Quality Manual Template is a tool designed for laboratories to help prepare a Quality Manual in compliance with the 2009 or 2016 TNI Standard. The prefabricated sections of the Quality Manual follow the ISO/IEC 17025 outline, but are completely fluid so that you can put sections, examples, links or references anywhere. The Template includes helpful notes, examples and text that can be edited to match each laboratory's particular circumstances. It can be used by a laboratory to create a Quality Manual from scratch or ideas and sections can be used to update a current Quality Manual.

Note: A revised version of this template replaced the previous version on November 17, 2017.  The primary change was combining the multiple files into one file to make the template easier to edit and replacing the reference to the 2009 standard to the 2016 standard.  Since both the 2009 and 2016 standards have the same organization and very comparable content, anyone who purchased the 2009 version does not need to obtain the 2016 version.

View sample pages from the Quality Manual Template:

Section 3 - Introduction and Scope
Section 5 - Quality Systems
Section 27 - Quality Assurance for Environmental Testing

The template is available as a Microsoft Word document for $115 for members or $250 for non-members. Purchase of the Quality Manual Template includes copies of the Method SOP Template and the Admin SOP Template. If you are a TNI member, be sure to log in before ordering to ensure you receive your TNI member discounted price. If you do not see "TNI Member Price" next to the prices listed below, you are not logged in!


TNI Quality Manual Template
$250 (Non-Member Price)

This document is intended to help explain the requirements of The NELAC Institute’s (TNI) 2016 Standard (EL-V1-2016-rev 2.1: Management and Technical Requirements for Laboratories Performing Environmental Analysis) and to provide environmental laboratories, especially small laboratories, with clear, simple guidance on how to develop the policies and procedures that will allow them to become accredited to the TNI Standard. This handbook is NOT a substitute for reading and understanding the TNI Standard. Keep in mind that the TNI Standard is not designed to tell you HOW you must do something. It is designed to tell you WHAT you must do. This document should provide you with examples of how you might comply with the TNI Standard. The examples provided are not requirements; they are recommendations that could help with compliance. Often, there are many options on what you can do to comply with the requirements of the TNI Standard. Each individual laboratory must decide what processes are the best for designing and implementing its quality management system.

View sample pages from the Small Laboratory Handbook:

Table of Contents (PDF)
Section 4.15 - Management Review (PDF)

View a presentation on the Small Laboratory Handbook (PowerPoint)

The handbook is available as a Adobe Acrobat PDF for $115 for members or $190 for non-members. TNI members may also purchase the Small Laboratory Handbook and the QAM Template together for $175, a savings of $35. If you are a TNI member, be sure to log in before ordering to ensure you receive your TNI member discounted price. If you do not see "TNI Member Price" next to the prices listed below, you are not logged in!


Small Laboratory Handbook
$190 (Non-Member Price)

The TNI Technical Assistance Committee has developed two template models to aid laboratories in implementing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for analytical methods used in their laboratory, and for implementing Administrative SOPs (such as data integrity, corrective actions, or handling customer complaints). This document addresses the laboratory method SOPs. The requirements for these SOPs are included in NELAC (2003) 5.5.4.1.2, "Laboratory Method Manual(s)".

View sample page from the Method SOP Template
View sample page from the Administrative SOP Template

The templates are available as Microsoft Word documents for $10 each, and are free to anyone who purchases the Quality Manual template. If you are a TNI member, be sure to log in before ordering to ensure you receive your TNI member discounted price. If you do not see "TNI Member Price" next to the prices listed below, you are not logged in!


Method SOP Template
$10 (Non-Member Price)

Admin SOP Template
$10 (Non-Member Price)

The organizations listed below are all organizational members of TNI in good standing and have indicated to TNI that they perform training and consulting services to laboratories seeking accreditation. TNI receives no fees or revenue from these services. TNI has not evaluated the services, materials offered or technical knowledge of these individuals or companies. TNI does not endorse or warrant any of the services and a laboratory should do its own appropriate due diligence in selecting the service provider that is needed. TNI suggests that references be gathered to assist in the evaluation of these or any provider's services and client satisfaction. If you need further information, please contact the providers directly.


Note: The following list may be sorted by clicking on a column header.

CompanyNameCityStatePhoneE-Mail

Advanced Systems, Inc.Marlene MooreNewarkDE302-368-1211[email protected]

Analytical Excellence, Inc.John FarrellAltamonte SpringsFL407-331-5040[email protected]

ChemVal ConsultingJohn GumpperManisteeMI231-723-4043[email protected]

Dynamic Technology Solutions, LLCMichael HintzAustinTX512-336-1900[email protected]

Enlightened Quality Analytics, LLCShannon SwantekCORTE MADERACA831-295-1887[email protected]

Environmental Laboratory Consulting and Technology LLCSilky LabieTallahasseeFL850-656-6298[email protected]

Labtopia Solutions, Inc.Jeanne MensinghLeague CityTX281-619-2600[email protected]

MBC Aquatic SciencesSonja BeckCosta MesaCA714-850-4830[email protected]

Miller Quality ConsultingMitzi MillerKnoxvilleTN509-531-0255[email protected]

NV5/Dade MoellerCharles NewtonRichlandWA[email protected]

Quality Assurance Solutions, LLCDiane LawverLakeportCA707-275-2039[email protected]

Red River ScientificDonnie CantuTX713-418-9160[email protected]

SAW EnvironmentalTony FrancisHighlandUT801-999-8293[email protected]

Shepherd Technical Services, LLCMei Beth ShepherdAustinTX512-335-0906[email protected]

The Markay Consulting Group LLCMark AlessandroniLakelandFL863-255-5856[email protected]

William Ray Consulting LLCWilliam RayMartinezCA925-300-3350[email protected]


The individuals and organizations listed below are all members of TNI in good standing and have indicated to TNI that they are qualified assessors interested in working under contract to Accreditation Bodies, states or laboratories seeking contract assessors. TNI receives no fees or revenue from these services. TNI has not evaluated the services, qualifications or technical knowledge of these individuals or companies, and does not endorse or warrant any of the services. Any organization contracting these individuals or organizations should do its own appropriate due diligence in selecting the service provider that is needed. TNI suggests that references be gathered to assist in the evaluation of these or any provider's services and client satisfaction. If you need further information, please contact the providers directly.


ANAB

Contact: Patrick Douglass
414-501-5335
[email protected]
Statement of Qualifications (PDF)


Dynamic Technology Solutions

Contact: Michael Hintz
Austin, Texas
512-336-1900 ext. 101
[email protected]
Statement of Qualifications (PDF)


Matthew Sica
Matthew Sica Consulting
Vassalboro, ME
207-624-1532
[email protected]
Statement of Qualifications (PDF)


Michelle Wade

Wade Consulting & Solutions
Lawrence, KS
913-449-5223
[email protected]
Statement of Qualifications (PDF)

 

To add or update a listing, please complete the appropriate template (whether individual or organization) and submit it to the Laboratory Accreditation Body Committee Program Administrator.

Templates

Individual Statement of Qualifications for Third Party Assessor Contracts (Word .docx format)

Organizational Statement of Qualifications for Third Party Assessor Contracts
(Assessor Requirements)
(Word .docx format)

 

QAM Section 3 ExampleQAM Section 5 ExampleQAM Section 27 Example