Release of NABL 218A: Checklist for Annual Surveillance

To maintain high standards of quality and technical competence, laboratories accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) are required to undergo regular surveillance assessments. One of the most critical tools recently released  to be used during these assessments is the NABL 218A: Checklist for Annual Surveillance. Issued on 06-Aug-2025, this document ensures that accredited Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs) continue to comply with international standards such as ISO/IEC 17025:2017.

What Is NABL 218A?

The NABL 218A is a standardized checklist used by NABL assessors during the annual surveillance visit. It helps them verify that your lab continues to meet all relevant clauses of ISO/IEC 17025:2017—including technical competence, impartiality, equipment maintenance, reporting, and continual improvement.

Key ISO 17025 Areas Covered in the Checklist

1. Corrective Actions on Previous NCs

If your lab received any non-conformities (NCs) during the last assessment, the checklist asks assessors to review whether you’ve taken effective corrective actions—and whether the issues have remained resolved over time.

2. Internal Audits

Clause 8.8 of ISO/IEC 17025 requires labs to conduct internal audits regularly. The checklist checks:

• Whether you have an audit plan

• If audits are done on schedule

• Who conducted them and whether they’re trained

• If all lab activities—including off-site and mobile—were covered

3. Management Review

Clause 8.9 focuses on management review. The assessor checks:

• Was the review done as per the schedule?

• Did it include all ISO-required agenda items (like risks, improvement, customer feedback)?

• Were the actions from the review implemented?

4. Complaints Handling

Clause 7.9 of ISO/IEC 17025 deals with complaint handling. The assessor ensures:

• There’s a documented process for dealing with complaints

• Each complaint was tracked, investigated, and closed properly

• Records are maintained

5. Participation in PT/ILC

As per Clause 7.7, labs must monitor their performance through participation in Proficiency Testing (PT) or Inter-Laboratory Comparison (ILC). The assessor checks:

• If you followed the PT plan

• How your lab performed

• Whether corrective actions were taken for any poor performance

6. Equipment and Calibration

Clause 6.4 and 6.5 focus on equipment and traceability. The checklist ensures:

• All instruments are calibrated and records are maintained

• Traceability is ensured as per NABL 142

• Details like range, accuracy, and due dates are updated

7. Test Reports and Use of NABL Symbol

Assessors verify whether your test reports comply with Clause 7.8 (reporting requirements). They also check if the NABL logo or ILAC MRA mark is being used correctly, in line with NABL 133.

Click here to get NABL 218A document