Requirements for maintaining accreditation status.
(1) Accreditation is granted for a one-year period (the accreditation year) and expires one year after the effective date of accreditation.
(2) Renewal requires the laboratory to submit:
(a) An application and appropriate fees;
(b) An update of the laboratory's QA manual if applicable;
(c) Evidence of accreditation by a third party when appropriate;
(d) Successful completion of proficiency testing requirements; and
(e) Any other documents specifically requested by the department needed to renew accreditation.
(3) For laboratories accredited for drinking water parameters, on-site audits are required at periods not to exceed three years from the previous on-site audit.
(4) For laboratories not accredited for drinking water parameters, the schedule of audits will be determined by the ecology accrediting authority.
(5) For a laboratory planning to permanently change their location, the laboratory must notify the department at least 30 days prior to the need for accreditation at the new location. At the time of the laboratory move, the department places all accredited parameters into interim status pending successful completion of an audit. For instrumental analysis methods laboratories must take the following actions after a move:
(a) Conduct new MDL studies for all parameters at the new location;
(b) Pass a PT for all parameters at the new location;
(c) Update SOPs for all changed parameters, if there are any revisions to the SOPs due to the laboratory move; and
(d) Update third-party scope(s), if applicable.
(6) If the laboratory move includes a merger with another accredited laboratory, the laboratory must notify the department at least 60 days prior to the need for accreditation.
(7) Temporary and/or emergency laboratory moves will be handled on a case-by-case basis. The laboratory must contact the department before any sample analysis can resume.
(8) For a laboratory to be accredited for drinking water parameters, the laboratory must comply with requirements under WAC
246-390-055,
246-390-065, and
246-390-075 and 40 C.F.R. Part 141.
[Statutory Authority: RCW
43.21A.230. WSR 23-18-059 (Order 22-07), § 173-50-130, filed 9/1/23, effective 10/2/23. Statutory Authority: RCW
43.21A.230,
43.20.050 and 2009 c 564 § 301. WSR 10-17-032 (Order 09-09), § 173-50-130, filed 8/9/10, effective 9/9/10. Statutory Authority: RCW
43.21A.230. WSR 02-20-090 (Order 01-12), § 173-50-130, filed 10/1/02, effective 11/1/02; WSR 93-20-011 (Order 92-53), § 173-50-130, filed 9/22/93, effective 10/23/93; WSR 90-21-090 (Order 90-21), § 173-50-130, filed 10/19/90, effective 11/19/90; WSR 89-10-001 and 90-07-017 (Order 89-1 and 89-1A), § 173-50-130, filed 4/20/89 and 3/13/90, effective 4/13/90.]
