scope:

General information

Purpose and scope

NIST Handbook 150 sets forth the procedures and general requirements under which the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) operates as an unbiased third party to accredit both testing and calibration laboratories.

NIST Handbook 150, the NIST Handbook 150-xx program-specific handbook, and the program-specific on-site assessment checklist, if applicable, constitute the collective body of requirements that must be met by a laboratory seeking NVLAP accreditation in a specific Laboratory Accreditation Program (LAP).

This handbook is for use by laboratories in developing the management and technical systems that govern their operations. Laboratory customers, regulatory authorities, and accreditation bodies may also use it as a basis upon which to judge the competence of laboratories.

If a testing or calibration laboratory fulfills the requirements of this handbook, it meets both the technical competence requirements and management system requirements that are necessary for it to consistently deliver technically valid test results and calibrations. The management system requirements in this handbook (Clause 4) are written in language relevant to laboratory operations and meet the principles of ISO 9001:2000, Quality management systems-Requirements, and are aligned with its pertinent requirements. (See Annex A, A.2.)

Compliance with regulatory and safety requirements for the operation of laboratories is not addressed by this handbook. Such requirements may be addressed in the NIST Handbook 150-xx series of program-specific handbooks.