Quality Assurance at the NVSL
The National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) Quality Management System is guided by a quality coordinator, area quality managers, and quality management program assistants. A quality manual and core guiding documents define and direct the NVSL-wide quality policies and procedures.
Ongoing quality assurance activities include internal audits, management review, corrective and preventive actions, and proficiency tests. Various external audits are conducted on a regular basis, including audits by an accrediting body and regulatory agencies.
Accreditation
In December 2006, the NVSL and the onsite Calibration Laboratory received accreditation to the International Organization for Standardization/International Electrotechnical Commission (ISO/IEC) 17025 Standard: General Requirements for the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories. Accreditation recognizes the competency of the NVSL and Calibration Laboratory to perform the tests and calibrations defined within the scope of accreditation.
In May 2012, the NVSL received accreditation for Proficiency Tests under the ISO/IEC 17043 Standard: Conformity Assessment—General Requirements for Proficiency Testing. Accreditation was also granted for Reference Materials under the ISO Guide 17034: General Requirements for the Competence of Reference Material Producers. Accreditation as a Reference Material producer and a Proficiency Test provider recognizes the NVSL's commitment to providing quality reference materials and proficiency test schemes.
The NVSL Quality Management System and scope tests areas are audited by an independent accreditation body recognized by the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation. Audits and surveillance visits are an ongoing part of maintaining the NVSL's accreditations. The NVSL continually strives to improve its Quality Management System and expand its scopes of accreditation.
Scopes of Accreditation
The scope represents specific tests or calibrations. View the current NVSL scopes of accreditation below.
Contact Us
For more information, email us at nvsl.quality.management@usda.gov.