Getting ready to apply for NATA accreditation can feel overwhelming. Most laboratories start by focusing on the Quality Manual, QMS and documenting procedures, assuming the technical details will come easily.
That’s understandable, but what really moves you toward accreditation is in the technical requirements of ISO 17025 and ISO 15189. This is the work you’re already doing in the lab: testing, equipment, results and day-to-day processes. The Quality Manual, QMS and organisational procedures still matter, but they come later.
Once you focus on the standards, you may find you’re closer to NATA accreditation than you realise.
Here are the 7 signs that will tell you if you’re on the right track. See how many of these seven signs sound familiar…you might be further along than you realise. And if you’re not quite ready to apply for NATA accreditation, we have some tips on how to bridge the gap.
Sign 1. Your lab team is humming
When you’ve got the right people on the job, with enough access to professional advice and supervision, the lab runs well. They know what to do and how to do it.
How to get there:
Add a sprinkle of constructive communication with your staff about day-to-day needs and accreditation requirements as you go, and they will learn how to adapt your laboratory to meet NATA expectations.
Sign 2. You have a technical manager who is all over the bigger picture
NATA Accreditation processes inevitably push you into studying the details of methods and requirements. You need someone on the team who will ask the bigger questions, like “Why are we doing this?” “Who benefits?” and “Do we need to go this far?”
How to get there:
Make sure you (or your expert) are available to give technical guidance to the team and encourage their curly questions. If you don’t have one yet, consider engaging a sessional expert. This person needs to be available during NATA assessments too.
Sign 3. You know what your clients need or want
You can answer the question, “What do our clients want to see on test reports?”
How to get there:
Research similar accredited labs, speak with your customers, and ensure you have a clear understanding of their requirements. Be prepared to have meetings with clients, read copies of NATA-endorsed test reports from competitors and review their scope of accreditation.
Then make sure you apply for accreditation for the right tests.
Sign 4. Your laboratory is set up to run smoothly
Your lab environment is right for the tests you need to do, and for the staff who need to run them reliably.
How to get there:
Have a few run-throughs doing the tests, so you know it all hangs together.
Sign 5. Equipment is schmick
You have ALL the gear, not just most of it. You’ve verified and/or calibrated it and made sure it meets your requirements for measurement uncertainty.
How to get there:
Do a detailed audit of the method and NATA requirements to check that you have all the equipment you need. Have the calibrations done by NATA Accredited calibration labs.
Sign 6. You’re all over the methods
You know what your potential clients are looking for and you’ve studied the best methods to get these results or developed your own.
How to get there:
If you’re going with published standard methods, audit your lab, equipment and QC closely against the standard.
If you have developed your own methods, ensure you have written instructions and validation data to demonstrate that they work.
Sign 7. You can confirm that the methods are working every day
You’ve built in quality control steps and acceptance criteria for the results. And you have found a proficiency testing program that suits your laboratory.
How to get there:
Review your methods and ask yourself, “How do we know it’s working? Are there blanks or controls as part of the run, and do we have enough data to decide if they have passed or failed?” Use your validation data to establish acceptance criteria for QC.
Find an external proficiency (or inter-lab) program that gives you confidence that your test results are comparable to those of other labs working in the field.
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So that’s it! They’re the 7 signs. How did you do?
If you answered a big ‘Yes’ to each of these 7 steps, get on the blower today and get the ball rolling to apply for NATA accreditation.
But if you’re not quite sure, we’re here to help you work out how high to set the bar.