The AIHA Laboratory Accreditation Programs achieve and maintain the highest level of quality in their programs through the following steps:

1.1.1 Requiring the laboratory seeking accreditation to operate a laboratory in which sampling and testing procedures are performed with adequate controls by well-qualified personnel using appropriate equipment and methods. High standards of practice are encouraged and maintained through conformance with established accreditation criteria, education, proficiency testing and onsite assessments.

1.1.2 Maintaining an ongoing surveillance of laboratories participating in the LQAPs using criteria defined by specific program requirements detailed in Modules 2A-2F, Quality System Requirements and Modules 6A-6F, Proficiency Testing (PT).

1.1.3 Auditing accredited laboratories in order to ensure compliance with requirements and standards of the LQAPs.

1.1.4 Recognizing compliance with standards by issuing certificates of accreditation for a period of three years in the name of the AIHA.

1.1.5 Adding, as needed, sample matrices, components and new technologies for existing programs to serve the needs of the laboratory community.

1.1.6 Establishing, as needed, additional quality analytical programs to serve the specific needs of the laboratory community. New programs are initiated under the direction of the AIHA Analytical Accreditation Board (AAB).

1.2 MANNER OF ACTING

The Analytical Accreditation Board (AAB) and its subordinate Technical Advisory Panel (TAP) shall conduct the technical business of the LQAPs according to the following directives:

1.2.1 A two-thirds majority of the AAB members eligible to vote shall be required on a formal, written letter ballot vote, electronic vote, or meeting vote, at which a quorum is present, for matters regarding a laboratory approval, denial or revocation.

1.2.2 A simple majority of the AAB members eligible to vote shall be required on a formal, written letter ballot vote, electronic vote, or meeting vote, at which a quorum is present, for matters other than those specified in Section 1.2.1.

1.2.3 An AAB member shall support any of his/her votes to deny or revoke accreditation by citing the specific LQAP policy that is the basis of the negative vote.

1.2.4 AAB and Technical Advisory Panel (TAP) members shall comply with the AIHA Conflict of Interest Policy.

1.3 AUTHORITY

The AAB operates the LQAPs under the authority granted by the AIHA Board of Directors (BOD). The role and responsibilities of the AAB as determined by the BOD are set forth in BOD policies.

ACCREDITATION BODIES RECOGNIZED BY NACLA

To date, NACLA has recognized four accreditation bodies (ABs): the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA); the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA); the International Accreditation Service (IAS, formerly ICBO ES); and the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP).

The basis for NACLA recognition is a three-step process: careful review of the ABs documents and procedures; a thorough on-site evaluation by a team of NACLA experts to determine the AB's compliance with NACLA recognition procedures and the international standard for ABs (ISO/IEC Guide 58); and review of the evaluation team's report and recommendation by representatives of peer ABs and interested NACLA-member specifies who form NACLA's Acceptance Panel.

Those ABs which the Acceptance Panel finds to be competent are invited to become signatories of the NACLA mutual recognition arrangement (MRA). Under the MRA, each AB is required to treat the accreditations, test reports and certificates of the other signatories as technically equivalent.