Amendments to NIST Handbook 150:2006, 3.4.1

NVLAP has released a new Policy Guide to publish revisions to NVLAP proficiency testing procedures as found in NIST Handbook 150, NVLAP Procedures and General Requirements, section 3.4.1. The purpose of a Policy Guide is to set forth a new NVLAP policy, together with guidance, or to clarify an existing policy. Policy Guides apply to all NVLAP laboratory accreditation programs (LAPs) and augment NIST Handbook 150 in between editions.

In 2010, ISO/IEC 17043, Conformity assessment – General requirements for proficiency testing, was published to specify general requirements for the competence of providers of proficiency testing, as well as for the development and operation of proficiency testing programs. This standard replaced ISO/IEC Guide 43 (1997), Proficiency testing by interlaboratory comparisons, Part 1 and Part 2, which was a guidance document. NVLAP does not accredit proficiency testing providers; however, its proficiency testing procedures are consistent with the requirements contained in ISO/IEC 17043, where applicable. Therefore, NIST Handbook 150 is being amended to reflect the transition from ISO/IEC Guide 43 to ISO/IEC 17043.

For the complete text of the Policy Guide, please visit the NVLAP Publications and Forms page of the NVLAP website at http://www.nist.gov/nvlap/nvlap-publications.cfm.