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National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program 1993 Directory MI CZTT sPecial Publication 810, XII—31 I 1993 edition U.S. Department of Commerce Technology Administration QC National Institute of Standards 100 anc Technology ' U57 #810 1993 nist UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Institute of Standards and Technology Gaithersburg. Maryland 2Q899 Dear Colleague: This directory identifies laboratories accredited under the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The NVLAP- accredited laboratories have fulfilled the stringent technical and managerial requirements for demonstration of competence built into the accreditation process for the designated fields oftesting and calibration. Such recognition is provided by the annual Certificate and Scope of Accreditation granted to the laboratory. The directory is arranged to provide easy access and use by state and federal government agencies, manufacturers, and laboratories; it is revised annually and updated with supplements quarterly. The directory is distributed to all laboratories currently accredited by NVLAP, to state governments and federal agencies, and to national accreditation bodies of other countries. Copies are made available on request to this office. Laboratory accreditation continues to grow in importance as industry and governments establish or enhance their efforts to improve the quality of testing and calibration services. Accreditation is a major component of assurance of conformity assessment and is related to the intensified focus on quality in manufacturing and services. Concurrent with the growth of attention to accreditation is the spreading interest in quality systems registration. This interest has derived from the establishment ofthe ISO 9000 series of standards for "Quality Management and Quality Assurance." A laboratory accredited by NVLAP, using the provisions of ISO Guide 25, will be in compliance with ISO 9000 standards. Significant new laboratory accreditation programs (LAPs) are under development for testing laboratories and calibration laboratories. Implementation of the Fastener LAP will embrace accreditation in five fields-of-testing (Chemical, Dimensional, Mechanical, Physical, and Metallographic) involving a wide range of test methods. Development of the Calibration LAP will embrace eight fields-of-calibration composed of 75 parameters. These developments, coupled with the revision of NVLAP policies and procedures to conform with international standards and guidelines, will offer current and future NVLAP- accredited laboratories national and international recognition of specific technical competence as well as broader quality program recognition. We will be pleased to furnish you with further information about NVLAP and its accredited laboratories, and welcome your suggestions for improvements in our program and services. Sincerely Albert D. Tholen, Chief Laboratory Accreditation Program NIST Special Publication 810, 1993 edition National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program 1993 Directory Vanda R. White, Editor January 1993 Supersedes SP810, 1992 edition U.S. DepartmentofCommerce Ronald H. Brown, Secretary Technology Administration RobertM. White, Under Secretary forTechnology National Institute ofStandards and Technology John W. Lyons, Director National Institute ofStandards and Technology Special Publication 810 Supersedes SP 810, 1992 edition 164 pages (January 1993) CODEN: NSPUE2 U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON: 1993 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents U.S. Government Printing Office Washington, DC 20402-9325 NVLAP AND THE NVLAP LOGO The term NVLAP and the NVLAP logo are Federally registered trademarks of the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the Federal Government, who retain exclusive rights therein. Permission to use the term and/or the logo is granted to NVLAP-accredited laboratories for the limited purpose of announcing their accredited status, and for use on reports that describe only testing and calibration within the scope of accreditation. NIST reserves the right to control the quality of the use of the term NVLAP and of the logo itself. INTRODUCTION The National Institute of Standards and Technology's National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) is designed to improve the competence oftesting and calibration laboratories and the reliability of laboratory measurements.1 NVLAP determines laboratory ability to meet established criteria and technical requirements for accreditation of specific test and calibration methods, through on-site assessments by technical experts and laboratory participation in proficiency testing programs. NVLAPpublicationofresults ofproficiency testing and participation in standards development contribute to improved test and calibration methods and laboratory performance. Theaccredited laboratorieshavebeen foundto havetheskilled people, necessary facilities and equipment, documentation and quality assurance systems to produce reliable data. We recommend thatconsideration be given to the use ofthese laboratories whenever their accredited capabilities satisfy needs. Current information on the accredited status of a laboratory can be obtained: (1) directly from the laboratory; (2) by writing to: Chief, Laboratory Accreditation Program National Institute of Standards and Technology Building 411, Room A162 MD Gaithersburg, 20899; (3) by computer-to-computer communication with the NVLAP electronic bulletin board on 301-948-2058; (4) by FAX on 301-926-2884; or (5) by calling NVLAP on 301-975-4016. 1 No laboratories have been accredited under the Calibration LAP; therefore, all accreditations referenced in this edition ofthe Directory are for laboratories accredited under one or more ofthe testing LAPs. iii CONTENTS Page INTRODUCTION iii PROGRAM SUMMARY 1 LABORATORY PARTICIPATION SUMMARY 6 HOW TO USE THIS DIRECTORY 7 INDEX A. LISTING BY LABORATORY NAME 9 INDEX B. LISTING BY LABORATORY ACCREDITATION PROGRAM (LAP) 25 INDEX C. LISTING BY STATE/COUNTRY 45 INDEX D. LISTING BY NVLAP LAB CODE 63 v PROGRAM SUMMARY The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) administers the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP). NVLAP is comprised of a series of laboratory accreditation programs (LAPs) which are established on the basis of requests and demonstrated need. Each LAP includes specific calibrationand/ortest standards and related methods and protocols assembled to satisfy the unique needs for accreditation in a field-of-testing, field-of-calibration, product, or service. NVLAP accredits public and private laboratories based on evaluation oftheir technical qualifications and competence to carry out specific calibrations or tests. Accreditation criteria are published in the Code NVLAP ofFederal Regulations as apart ofthe Procedures. Accreditation is granted following successful completion of a process which includes submission of an application and payment of fees by the laboratory, an on-site assessment, resolution ofany deficiencies identified during the on-site assessment, participation in proficiency testing, technical evaluation, and administrative review. The accreditation is formalized through issuance of a Certificate of Accreditation and Scope of Accreditation (fig. 1) and publicized by announcement in various government and private media. NVLAP accreditation is available to commercial laboratories; manufacturers' in-house laboratories; university laboratories; and federal, state, and local government laboratories. Foreign-based laboratories may also be accredited ifthey meet the same requirements as domestic laboratories and pay any additional fees required for travel expenses. NVLAP provides an unbiased third party evaluation and recognition of performance, as well as expert NVLAP technical assistance to upgrade laboratory performance. accreditation signifies that a laboratory NVLAP has demonstrated that itoperates in accordance with requirements in thefollowing areas: quality system, staff, facilities and equipment, calibration, records, calibration or test method procedures, and calibration or test reports. NVLAP accreditation does not imply any guarantee (certification) of laboratory performance or test/calibration data; it is solely a finding of laboratory competence. This Directory of accredited laboratories is published annually and lists the name, address, contact person, phone number, accreditation renewal date and scope of accreditation for each accredited laboratory. An updated listing of accredited laboratories is published quarterly as a supplement to the Directory. A laboratory may cite its accredited status and use the NVLAP logo on reports, stationery, and in business and trade publications provided that this use does not imply product certification. On-Site Assessment Before initial accreditation and every two years thereafter, an on-site assessment of each laboratory is conducted to determine compliance with the NVLAP criteria. The assessment is conducted by one or more NVLAP assessors selected on the basis oftheir expertise in the field oftesting or calibration to be reviewed. They may be engineers or scientists currently active in the field, consultants, college NVLAP professors or retired persons. Their services are generally contracted as required; they are not staff members. Assessors use checklists provided by NVLAP so that each laboratory receives an assessment comparable to that received by others. However, assessors have some latitude to make judgments about a NVLAP laboratory's compliance with the criteria. 1 An assessment normally takes one to three days depending on the extent ofthe laboratory's application. Every effort is made to conduct an assessment with as little disruption as possible to the normal operations of the laboratory. During the assessment, the assessor carries out the following functions: - meets with management and supervisory personnel responsible for the laboratory's activities to review the assessment process and to set the assessment agenda; - examines the laboratory's quality assurance system, selects and traces the history of one or more samples from receipt to final issuance of reports, conducts a thorough review of the laboratory's quality manual or equivalent, evaluates the training program, examines notebooks or records pertaining to the samples, checks sample identificationand trackingprocedures, determines whether the appropriateenvironmental conditions are maintained, and examines copies ofcompleted reports; - reviews records of periodic internal audits, use of check samples or participation in round robin testing or other similar programs, personnel records including resumes and job descriptions ofkey personnel, competency evaluations for all staff members who routinely perform the testing or calibration for which accreditation is sought, calibration or verification records for apparatus used, reports, and sample control records; - observes demonstrations of laboratory techniques and discusses them with the technical personnel to assure their understanding ofthe procedures; and - examines major equipment, apparatus, and facilities. At the conclusion ofthe assessment, the assessor will conduct an exitbriefingto discuss observations and any deficiencies with responsible laboratory staff. A written assessment report will be left with the laboratory, and a copy forwarded to NVLAP. If the on-site inspection reveals deficiencies that pertain to NVLAP requirements, the laboratory must respond in writing to NVLAP within 30 days of such notification. The response must provide documentation, signed by the Authorized Representative, that the specified deficiencies have either been corrected or include a plan of action that is being taken to make corrections. Monitoring Visits Monitoring visits may be conducted at any time during the accreditation period for cause or on a random selection basis. These visits serve to verify reported changes in the laboratory's personnel, facilities, or operations, or to explore possible reasons for poor performance in proficiency testing. The scope of a monitoring visit may range from checking a few designated items to a complete review. Proficiency Testing Proficiency testing is an integral part of the NVLAP accreditation process. On-site demonstration of appropriatefacilities, equipment, personnel, etc., is essential, butmay notbe sufficientfor the continuing evaluation of laboratory competence. The production of test/calibration data using special proficiency testing samples or artifacts provides NVLAP with a means to determine the overall competence of the laboratory. Information obtained from proficiency testing helps to identify problems in a laboratory. When problems are found, NVLAP works with the laboratory staffto solve them. 2