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NABL Accreditation - An Overview

NABL accreditation, which stands for the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories, is a formal recognition granted to perform tests/ calibrations in compliance with ISO 17025:2017. It is a non-discriminatory manner accessible to all testing and calibration laboratories, regardless of their ownership, legal status, size, and degree of independence.

The NABL accreditation certificate is awarded to ensure that the testing laboratories provide accurate, reliable, and internationally acceptable test results. Intending to know more about the NABL certification procedure? Connect with Corpbiz experts to qualify assurance and get accurate results for Conformity Assessment Bodies (laboratories).

NABL Accreditation

What are the Benefits of obtaining the NABL Accreditation Certificate?

The entities obtaining an NABL accreditation certificate enjoy the following benefits, as discussed below:

Advantages of company Setup
Comply with International Quality Standards

Comply with International Quality Standards

Obtaining NABL accreditation helps laboratories to comply with strict international quality standards, thereby granting them recognition for reliable & accurate results.

Strengthen Lab Acceptance

Strengthen Lab Acceptance

Obtaining NABL accreditation helps laboratories to keep up with the latest technologies and follow industrial practices, thereby strengthening the acceptance of reports in India.

Maintain Accuracy of Test Reports

Maintain Accuracy of Test Reports

Obtaining NABL accreditation helps laboratories to maintain the accuracy of their test reports and calibration services, ultimately enhancing their customer confidence in India.

Support Sector Development

Support Sector Development

Obtaining NABL accreditation supports various sectors, including healthcare, manufacturing, and environmental management, thereby offering reliable testing & calibration services.

Continuous Improvement

Continuous Improvement

Obtaining NABL accreditation helps entities to promote continuous improvement, enhance technical capabilities & adopt best practices in laboratory management.

Improve Control Over Laboratories

Improve Control Over Laboratories

Obtaining NABL accreditation helps laboratories to improve their operational control and quality assurance systems, thereby enhancing their technical competence.

Eligibility Conditions to Obtain NABL Certificate

The eligibility conditions to get an NABL certificate in India are as follows:

  • It is crucial to carry out laboratory testing, calibration, research, or food testing activities
  • Must appoint a designated representative to oversee the accreditation process
  • Quality manual must comply with relevant ISO standards, including ISO 17025
  • Must be supervised by a trained quality manager supervising the quality management system
  • The laboratory must complete at least one internal audit and management review
  • Must participate in proficiency testing or inter-laboratory comparison programs

Who Needs to Apply for the NABL Lab Certificate?

The following are the entities eligible to apply for the NABL lab certificate in India:

  • Testing laboratories
  • Calibration laboratories
  • Pathological laboratories
  • Forensic laboratories
  • Medical laboratories
NABL Lab Certificate
NABL Lab Certificate

What are the Documents Required to Obtain NABL Approval?

The list of necessary documents required to obtain an NABL approval is mentioned below-

  • System & quality manual aligned with relevant ISO standards
  • Standard operating procedure (SOP)
  • Internal audit reports
  • Management review records
  • Equipment calibration certificate
  • Proficiency testing participation reports
  • Staff qualification & training records
  • Details of activities performed by the organization
  • Process undertaken by the organization
  • Any other related documents (if required)

Step-by-Step Process to Obtain Online NABL Accreditation in India

The step-by-step process to obtain an online NABL accreditation in India is as follows:

  • Step 1: Application Submission – Initially, it is crucial for the conformity assessment body or laboratory to submit application forms 151 to 153 and respective documents in compliance with the relevant ISO standards.
  • Step 2: Document Review – In the next step, the NABL assessment team conducts a detailed document review and provides feedback indicating inadequacies and points of conflict (if any).
  • Step 3: Conduct On-Site Visit – In the next step, the NABL auditors conduct an on-site visit to evaluate the laboratory’s technical competence and adherence to the reliable ISO standards.
  • Step 4: Conduct NABL Assessment – Upon completion of the on-site inspection, the NABL conducts annual surveillance as per prescribed procedures or to investigate complaints, in compliance with the prescribed laboratory policies.
  • Step 5: Submit Assessment Report – Once the evaluation is successfully conducted, a detailed assessment report is submitted and stored in the document management system for further review at the Secretariat of the NABL.
  • Step 6: Conduct Follow-Up Actions – Next, the conformity assessment body or laboratories must undertake follow-up actions within 60 days of the review of the assessment report.
  • Step 7: Provide Recommendations & Corrective Measures – Next, the accreditation committee provides recommendations and corrective measures to the Chairman of the NABL. However, the decision of the chairman is not binding and can be appealed before the director of the NABL.
  • Step 8: Issuance of Final Accreditation – Upon the approval of the accreditation committee, the final NABL accreditation certificate, containing a unique number and QR code, is issued for a period of at least 2 years.

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Different Types of NABL Lab Certificates Issued in India

Have a look at the different types of NABL lab certificates issued in India:

Testing Laboratory Certificate

Testing Laboratory Certificate

Testing laboratory certificates, i.e., ISO 17025: 2017, are issued to testing labs authorized to conduct medical, chemical, biological, electronic, forensic, and non-destructive testing in India.

Calibration Laboratories Certificate

Calibration Laboratories Certificate

Calibration laboratories certificates, i.e., ISO 17025: 2017 are issued to labs authorized to provide calibration services in electro-technical, mechanical, fluid-flow, and thermal fields.

Medical Laboratories Certificate

Medical Laboratories Certificate

Medical laboratories certificates, i.e., ISO 15189:2012, are issued for clinical and diagnostic testing labs, including pathology, microbiology, molecular biology, and genetics.

Proficiency Testing Providers Certificate

Proficiency Testing Providers Certificate

Proficiency testing providers certificates, i.e., ISO 17043 authorizes accreditation to providers offering proficiency testing programs and access to lab performances.

Reference Material Producers Certificate

Reference Material Producers Certificate

Reference material producers, i.e., ISO 17034 certificates authorize accreditation to producers of certified reference materials in India.

Biobanks Certificates

Biobanks Certificates

Biobanks certificates, issued under ISO 20387 is a specialized accreditation granted to laboratories engaged in biobanking, including handling biological samples.

Key Difference Between NABL and ISO

It is important for the entities seeking NABL accreditation to know the key difference between NABL and ISO in India. Have a look at the table providing a detailed comparison among the two:

S. No. Aspect NABL ISO
1 Full Form NABL stands for National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories, which is a constituent Board of the Quality Council of India. ISO stands for International Organization for Standardization, which is a global body responsible for publishing quality & safety standards across various industries.
2 Nature It is an accreditation body in India, established to assess compliance with global ISO standards. It is an international standard-setting organization.
3 Certification Granted Grants accreditation to laboratories. Grant ISO certification or standard compliance to organizations.
4 Focus Area Conformity assessment bodies, testing laboratories, and facilities. All industries and sectors.
5 Mode of Assessment Detailed technical assessment, proficiency testing, and on-site evaluation. Audit-based assessment against ISO standards.

Post-NABL Accreditation Compliances in India

The NABL-accredited conformity assessment bodies or laboratories must comply with the following post-NABL accreditation compliance requirements, as provided below:

  • Conduct Periodic Audits – The accredited laboratories must conduct periodic surveillance audits to ensure ongoing compliance with prescribed ISO standards.
  • Renewal or Reassessment of Labs – The accredited laboratories must apply for renewal or reassessment of labs at least 6 months prior to the expiration of the current accreditation.
  • Participate in Proficiency Testing – The NABL-accredited laboratories must participate in proficiency testing programs to benchmark their performance against peers.
  • Equipment Calibration – The NABL-accredited laboratories must ensure calibration of all equipment, in compliance with records demonstrating traceability within the scope of accreditation.
  • Transition to New Standards – The NABL-accredited laboratories must perform transition to updated versions of standards within the specified time frame.
  • Comply with NABL 131 – The NABL-accredited laboratories must ensure compliance with the terms and conditions, allowing assessors to visit and maintaining confidentiality within lab premises.
  • Conduct Management Review – The NABL-accredited laboratories must conduct regular internal audits and management review to evaluate the effectiveness of the system.
  • Handle Complaints – The NABL-accredited laboratories must maintain proper records and undertake corrective actions to resolve any complaints arising within the laboratory.
  • Report Changes – The accredited laboratories must immediately inform and report any significant changes in personnel, location, or ownership details of the lab directly to NABL.

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360° GAP Analysis & Appraisal

360° GAP Analysis & Appraisal

Connect Corpbiz experts to conduct a 360° GAP analysis and technical appraisal of laboratory readiness for NABL accreditation.

 NABL Standard Compliance Guidance

NABL Standard Compliance Guidance

Our professionals provide NABL standard compliance guidance to ensure compliance with prescribed standards, calibration procedure, and quality management system requirements.

Reliable Testing & Calibration Services

Reliable Testing & Calibration Services

Start implementing reliable testing & calibration practices to ensure accuracy, traceability, and compliance with the duly-prescribed NABL requirements.

End-to-End Mock Assessment Assistance

End-to-End Mock Assessment Assistance

Get end-to-end assistance to conduct a mock assessment to help laboratories prepare and minimize non-conformities (if any).

Documentation & SOP Preparation Support

Documentation & SOP Preparation Support

Get support to draft and prepare necessary documentation, including SOPs, calibration records, uncertainty calculations, etc.

Partner with Corpbiz™ for Obtaining NABL Accreditation in India

Handled 500+ Accreditation

Handled 500+ Accreditation

Connect with our team of Corpbiz experts holding a proven track record in the successful handling of 500+ NABL accreditations across industries.

10+ Years of Regulatory Experience

10+ Years of Regulatory Experience

Connect with our team of experts, holding 10+ years of experience, conducting initial GAP analysis, submitting documentation, and obtaining final certification from NABL.

Dedicated NABL Client Support

Dedicated NABL Client Support

At Corpbiz, we offer dedicated 24/7 NABL client support to deliver real-time updates throughout the accreditation journey.

Cost-Effective Consultancy Solutions

Cost-Effective Consultancy Solutions

Connect Corpbiz to get access to our cost-effective consultancy solutions customized based on the size, scope, and technical requirements of the calibration laboratory.

Time-Bound Approach

Time-Bound Approach

Connect our experts, following a time-bound approach to manage NABL accreditation within a reasonable and structured time frame.

PAN-India Accreditation Support

PAN-India Accreditation Support

At Corpbiz, we provide PAN-India accreditation support to simplify the testing & calibration procedure across medical laboratories.

FAQs on NABL Accreditation

NABL, which stands for National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories, is an autonomous body under the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India, and is responsible for accrediting testing, calibration, and medical laboratories.

NABL accreditation is a formal recognition granted to laboratories attesting conformity assessment body, that recognizes competence of CAB to perform specific conformity assessment tasks. The process of obtaining an NABL calibration certificate further ensures that the laboratories are technically competent, follow global procedures, and deliver consistently reliable results.

The conformity assessment bodies and laboratories looking to obtain an NABL certificate in India must comply with the following steps that require filing of application forms 151, 152, or 153, submission of respective documents, conducting a detailed review & on-site visit, conducting annual surveillance to provide a detailed report and undertaking follow-up action for the issuance of the final NABL accreditation certificate.

To verify whether a lab is NABL-certified, the official NABL website’s Accredited Laboratories Directory must be reviewed to search, by using the lab name, location, or certificate number.

Yes, NABL, which is a national authority controlled under the Quality Council of India, is only situated to provide services in India. However, it also provides accreditation services to labs based in other countries, which further grants recognition through mutual recognition arrangements with ILAC and APAC.

The medical laboratories eligible to obtain NABL accreditation in India are clinical biochemistry, haematology, clinical pathology, microbiology & infectious disease serology, histopathology, cytopathology, flow cytometry, cytogenetics, and molecular testing.

The authority responsible for the issuance of NABL accreditation in India is the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories, which is a constituent board of the Quality Council of India under the Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India.

About the Author


NE
Neha Dawra

Legal Researcher

Written by Neha Dawra. Last updated on May 31 2026, 06:02 PM

Neha Dawra has 4+ years of experience in legal research and intellectual property advisory. Her expertise lies in analyzing IP laws, drafting structured legal content, and simplifying complex registration procedures into clear, simple insights.

 

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