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The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) administers the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation
Program (NVLAP). NVLAP accredits public and private laboratories based on evaluation of their technical qualifications
and competence to carry out specific tests or calibrations.
NVLAP provides an unbiased third party evaluation and recognition of performance, as well as expert technical
guidance to upgrade laboratory performance. NVLAP accreditation signifies that a laboratory has demonstrated that it
operators in accordance with NVLAP management and technical requirements for accreditation, which include
requirements in the areas of quality systems, personnel, accommodations and environmental conditions, test and
calibration methods and method validation, equipment, measurement traceability, handling of test and calibration items,
assuring the quality of test and calibration results, and reporting results.
NVLAP accreditation does not imply any guarantee (certification) of laboratory performance or test/calibration data; it is
solely a finding of laboratory competence. NVLAP accreditation does not represent an endorsement of any product by
NVLAP or any agency of the U.S. government.
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