What Are the Benefits of Hiring an NABL Consultant?

NABL accreditation is quite a long and technical process. If you want to save yourself from additional costs due to multiple mistakes and delays, hiring an NABL consultant is worth the cost for your lab.

A consultant can help your lab understand the different requirements, help prepare different documents, help implement the quality procedures in your lab and assist you with the NABL assessment.

Here are the benefits of hiring an NABL consultant.

What Is an NABL Consultant?

An NABL consultant is someone with expertise in guiding medical or testing and calibration laboratories through the process of NABL accreditation preparation.

NABL stands for National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories. It is a constituent board of the Quality Council of India (QCI).

For medical laboratories, NABL accreditation is based on ISO 15189:2022.

An NABL consultant helps in understanding the requirements of applicable standards, prepares documents, and helps laboratories implement a Quality Management System (QMS).

However, NABL grants accreditation after the applicable assessment and decision process. Consultants cannot issue accreditation certificates.

To know more, read NABL Consultants – Who They Are and How They Help.

Why Hire an NABL Consultant?

1. Understanding NABL Standards

An NABL consultant has a complete understanding of the requirements of ISO 15189:2022 and other NABL guidelines.

They assist in the preparation of quality documents, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and advise on internal quality audits, internal quality controls, external quality assessments and verification and validation of methods used.

Staff competency assessment is also an important part of the accreditation preparation process.

Many laboratories face challenges in interpreting the stated requirements without relevant experience.

A consultant helps in simplifying these requirements and helps the laboratory staff in incorporating them in the normal course of work of the laboratory. This is very useful for laboratories that are seeking NABL accreditation for the first time.

2. Faster Accreditation Preparation

Accreditation preparation requires laboratory staff to perform a number of activities such as documentation, staff training, equipment records, quality control and internal audits.

Without adequate planning, laboratories may take longer to prepare for NABL accreditation.

An experienced consultant shows the pathway for NABL accreditation preparation.

This helps the laboratories identify gaps and prepare accordingly.

3. Saves Time and Resources

Laboratory owners and managers have several responsibilities, and preparing for accreditation increases their workload.

A consultant helps laboratory personnel do their routine work while providing support for NABL preparation activities. This can help reduce delays and organize their work more efficiently.

4. Risk Reduction

Routine inspection of calibration records, staff training records, and quality management system records can help laboratories identify gaps.

Unresolved issues that affect the laboratory's competency can hinder NABL accreditation.

Shortcomings during scope definition of accreditation can also affect assessment preparation.

NABL consultants detect these gaps prior to the assessment.

Nonconformities indicate a need for revision in the quality management system. Regular review and corrective action can reduce the possibility of recurring nonconformities.

Consultancy support further aids laboratories in building and improving their quality management systems.

5. Staff Training and Awareness

Staff competency is an important aspect of NABL accreditation.

Laboratory employees should know their responsibilities and procedures, as well as the quality requirements for each test they perform.

An NABL consultant can coordinate training for the above topics.

Regular training helps laboratory personnel maintain competence in quality requirements after accreditation.

How Qualityveda Makes NABL Consultancy More Affordable

At Qualityveda, we work to make NABL accreditation systematic, practical and affordable for laboratories.

In conventional consultancy methods, repeated site visits and separate charges for training, documentation and implementation become a burden on the client.

We provide a structured approach through our Quality Specialist Program.

Our goal is to make the consultancy as affordable as possible for the laboratories while they carry out their quality management activities without disruption.

Due to the varying requirements of a laboratory, Qualityveda offers different service packages. Actual savings depend on factors like staffing, the scope and the size of the laboratory, as well as the existing quality management system.

Benefits Qualityveda Offers

1. Quality Specialist at Reduced Costs

Qualityveda assigns a Quality Specialist to work with your laboratory on quality management system activities.

This includes the following:

• Monitoring quality control records
• Reviewing laboratory documentation
• Staff training
• Conducting internal audits
• Tracking quality indicators
• Preparing for the NABL assessment

Having Quality Specialist support for quality management activities means not having to depend on external consultants for every support.

The laboratory must have sufficient personnel, responsibilities and competence, as required by ISO 15189:2022.

To understand this service, read What Is the Quality Specialist Program?.

2. Access to Complete Digital Documentation

Preparing documentation is one of the most time-consuming activities while getting ready for an NABL assessment.

Qualityveda helps prepare and update the following documents:

• Quality Manual
• Standard Operating Procedures
• Records of equipment
• Staff training records
• Internal audit records
• Management review records
• Risk assessment records
• Corrective action records

These documents can be provided in electronic format. Electronic copies of documents facilitate reviewing, updating and maintaining them.

Being digitally equipped with quality documentation helps laboratories stay prepared for surveillance and reassessment. However, laboratories must update these documents if there are any changes in laboratory procedures or equipment.

3. Quality Management Software

Qualityveda has developed software solutions to assist in routine activities of a laboratory quality management system.

Digital solutions can be used to manage and track laboratory documentation and quality control records.

The use of such tools can be a good alternative to manage records and help laboratory personnel monitor performance and quality.

However, even when using software, the laboratory remains responsible for examining results, investigating quality control failures and taking corrective actions.

4. Structured Accreditation Preparation

Qualityveda offers a range of services to facilitate laboratories in gap assessment, documentation, implementation and training of quality management systems. We also provide support for internal audits and assessment preparation.

Our structured approach is aimed at helping laboratories become assessment-ready in the shortest and most organized timeframe.

The actual award of accreditation remains subject to NABL’s review, assessment and approval process.

How to Choose the Right NABL Consultant

Before employing an NABL consultant, laboratories should evaluate the consultancy services offered and the consultant’s experience, including their practical understanding of the operation of a laboratory, as well as their support for documentation and implementation, training, internal audit and assessment preparation, and consultancy fees and service responsibilities.

Good consultants should help laboratories understand the quality management system as opposed to preparing documents in isolation.

Management of the laboratory should actively participate throughout the process.

For the official requirements of accreditation, please see NABL’s Medical Laboratory Accreditation page.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. What Are the Benefits of Hiring an NABL Consultant?

Hiring an NABL consultant helps laboratories understand accreditation requirements, prepare documentation, implement quality management procedures, train staff and improve assessment readiness.

Q2. Can an NABL Consultant Reduce Accreditation Costs?

Actual savings will depend on your lab’s requirements and consultancy arrangements.

Q3. Can an NABL Consultant Guarantee Accreditation?

No. NABL makes the final decision after the assessment and accreditation decision process. However, consultants can assist laboratories in their preparation and help strengthen their systems, processes and procedures.

Q4. Is Hiring an NABL Consultant Mandatory?

No. Laboratories can choose to prepare for accreditation on their own or engage external consultants. Consultancy expenses are the responsibility of the laboratory.

Q5. Can a Quality Specialist Replace a Full-Time Quality Manager?

An external Quality Specialist can assist with certain quality management tasks, but the laboratory needs to meet the requirements in terms of staff, responsibility and competence for its operations.

Q6. How Does Qualityveda Help Laboratories Prepare for NABL Accreditation?

We help prepare documentation and Standard Operating Procedures, provide training, support quality control monitoring and assist with internal audits.

Final Thoughts

The right consultancy assistance will guide laboratories on what is needed to meet the requirements of ISO 15189:2022 and help them update their quality documentation and train their staff for assessment readiness.

At Qualityveda, our aim is to provide affordable and practical NABL consultancy services through the Quality Specialist Program and to provide digital quality management and documentation software.

Are you tired of wasting time, money and being stressed out?

Contact Qualityveda for assistance and let us simplify and manage your NABL accreditation process.

Call: 8882509194

Website: www.qualityveda.co