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Maharashtra leads in having the maximum number of 1,302 National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) accredited labs in the country.
This is followed by Gujarat which has 862 labs, Tamil Nadu with 758 labs, Karnataka with 612 labs, Uttar Pradesh with 561, West Bengal with 443 labs, Haryana with 413, Telangana with 407, Rajasthan with 322 labs, Kerala with 303 labs, Madhya Pradesh with 289 labs and Andhra Pradesh with 235 labs
NABL has accredited more than 8064 conformity assessment bodies (CABs) or labs as on date with support from the laboratories, Proficiency Testing (PT) Providers, Reference Material Producers (RMPs) and Assessors.
CAB is a body which includes testing including medical laboratory, calibration laboratory, proficiency testing provider, certified reference material producer. NABL has been established with the objective to provide government, industry associations and Industry in general with a scheme for third-party assessment of the quality and technical competence of testing and calibration laboratories.
“A 3-year transition period has also been given from the date of publication of the revised standard ISO 15189: 2022 "Medical Laboratories – Requirements for quality and competence". All NABL accredited medical laboratories will receive the assessment programme with an option to undergo transition to ISO 15189: 2022 version. Based on the opted assessment programme, NABL will conduct the assessment,” informed N Venkateswaran, chief executive officer (CEO), NABL.
“NABL has also initiated region wise stakeholders meetings for accredited laboratories. The stakeholders can interact with the NABL officials and share their views for improvement of the system,” he added.
The Ministry of MSME has announced that units under MSME Sustainable (ZED) Certification Scheme will be granted reimbursement of the testing charges if their products are tested in NABL accredited laboratories. A new Portal to accept GATC (Government Approved Testing Center) applications has been developed by NABL and is LIVE. NABL Accredited Laboratories can submit applications online through this portal to NABL.
The laboratories shall undergo assessment by NABL and Legal Metrology Division and based on the outcome of the assessment, GATC Approval shall be given by the Legal Metrology Division, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Government of India.
“Blockchain portal is being used by CABs and we have received encouraging feedback. I urge CABs that have not yet onboarded themselves on the blockchain portal to do so at the earliest. In order to maintain continuity in accreditation, laboratories are required to submit renewal applications six months in advance. This period is utilized to conduct the assessment in a timely manner and avoid break in the accreditation cycle,” Venkateswaran said.
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