HPS Laboratory Accreditation

Why Accreditation?

Accreditation communicates to your customers or users your ongoing commitment to high quality and demonstrates a high level of technical competence. If your operation includes calibration of survey instrumentation for radiation protection, accreditation as a secondary standard laboratory (SAL) or tertiary standard laboratory (TAL) is an acknowledgment of the highest level of technical competence and quality in your calibration operations.

Laboratory Accreditation Administration

Two HPS committees administer the program, assisted by a headquarters staff person and a technical director. The Policy Committee (LAPC) has responsibility to establish and maintain the policy and procedures for operation of the program, to provide independent oversight, and to develop and maintain the criteria used for assessment of laboratories. The Assessment Committee (LAAC) performs assessments of applicant laboratories and grants accreditation(s), subject to concurrence by the Policy Committee and the HPS Board.

Types of Accreditation

The HPS accredits calibration laboratories that satisfy criteria for either of two possible levels: secondary or tertiary (i.e., one or two steps removed, respectively, from NIST, which is the national primary level). Expectantly, the Criteria for Accreditation as a secondary accredited laboratory (SAL) are more stringent than the corresponding criteria applicable to a tertiary accredited laboratory (TAL).

Background Information

The HPS Laboratory Accreditation program became operational in 1987. It is aimed at the private sector but is available to any laboratory that calibrates portable instruments used for radiation protection. The quality of a radiation protection program can be no better than the quality of the measurements made to support it. Assurance of measurement quality can be achieved by participation in a measurement assurance program, often referred to as measurement quality assurance (MQA) program. Such a program evaluates the appropriateness of procedures, facilities, and equipment plus includes periodic actions that demonstrate adequate performance. These actions include internal consistency checks, proficiency tests, and site visits by technical experts to review operations. Basically, these requirements are fulfilled by an accredited calibration laboratory as described in ISO/IEC Guide 25 and the superseding standard ISO/IEC Standard 17025, "General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories." For more background information and history of the HPS Laboratory Accreditation Program, please refer to Ken Swinth's (Technical Director) article "HPS Laboratory Accreditation Program."

Further Information

For more information on the benefits of becoming an accredited laboratory, please see the HPS Laboratory Accreditation brochure for Instrument Calibration and Source Manufacturers accreditation. For details on the program see the Program Handbook for Accreditation of Instrument Calibration Laboratories or the Program Handbook for the Suppliers of Calibrated Radioactive Sources.

For other information (such as copies of the Brochure and Criteria) contact Nancy Johnson • HPS Secretariat •1313 Dolley Madison Blvd. • Suite 402 • McLean, VA 22101 • phone: 703-790-1745 • fax: 703-790-2672 • email: hps@burkinc.com.

Current Accredited Laboratories

K&S Associates, Inc. • 1926 Elm Tree Drive • Nashville, TN 37210-3718 • 800-522-2325