(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.