EPA National Lead Laboratory Accreditation Program (NLLAP)

What is the EPA National Lead Laboratory Accreditation Program (NLLAP)?

ANAB is recognized by the EPA to accredit laboratories for the EPA National Lead Laboratory Accreditation Program (NLLAP). The NLLAP was established by the EPA Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT) under the legislative directive of Title X, the Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992 Sections 405 (a) and (b) requiring EPA to set minimum standards for laboratory analysis of lead in paint films, soil, and dust.

NLLAP is based on the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025 and the additional requirements found in the most current version of the Laboratory Quality System Requirements (LQSR). In addition to meeting ISO/IEC 17025 and LQSR requirements, lead testing laboratories must successfully participate in the Environmental Lead Proficiency Analytical Testing Program (ELPAT).

LQSR revision 3 (July 5, 2007) was published by the EPA NLLAP and is available from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Ariel Rios Building (7404T), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20460, 202-566-0500, and at http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/lqsr3.pdf.

NLLAP is for laboratories that perform quantitative and/or qualitative analytical testing of paint chip (film), dust, and/or soil samples for lead analysis. The NLLAP and ANAB require accredited laboratories to employ quality assurance/quality control systems that meet the requirements described the LQSR and ISO/IEC 17025, to monitor for potential sample matrix and environmental interferences as well as laboratory operational deficiencies.

ANAB only accredits laboratories under NLLAP that practice the sub-contracting of routine samples analyses to another NLLAP recognized laboratories for the same analyses.

laboratory types

For the purposes of the NLLAP, a laboratory is defined as an operation that performs sampling and/or quantitative analytical testing of paint chip (film), dust, and/or soil samples for lead analysis regardless of the number of personnel or the extent of the scope of testing activities. NLLAP recognizes three types of laboratory operations:

• Fixed Site: An operation that performs analytical lead testing at a permanent location under controlled environmental conditions
• Mobile Facility: A transportable, self contained operation that can perform analytical lead testing under controlled environmental conditions
• Field Sampling and Measurement Organization (FSMO): An operation that performs on-site sampling and lead testing using portable testing technologies

A laboratory may include one, two, or all three of these types of operations. In cases where a laboratory does not perform one or more of the operations addressed above, the requirements relating to those activities do not apply.