What does AALA mean in VETERINARY

The American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (AALA) is a non-profit organization that provides programs and services to help laboratories attain and maintain accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025. AALA also promotes best practices in laboratory management, quality assurance, and testing accuracy.

There are several benefits to obtaining AALA accreditation, including gaining recognition from customers, demonstrating competence as a laboratory, ensuring consistently accurate results, promoting uniformity in testing, and increasing customer trust.

Organizations that provide testing or calibration services which meet the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025 should consider seeking accreditation from AALA. This includes laboratories that provide analytical services in industries such as food safety, pharmaceuticals, environmental testing, medical device manufacturing, etc.

The American Association for Laboratory Accreditation works with recognized evaluation bodies (REB) to assess and grant certification for laboratories. These REBs must meet strict criteria outlined by the International Standards Organization (ISO). Each REB is responsible for assessing each laboratory’s abilities based on their specific needs and requirements.

The process begins by selecting an REB approved by AALAla who can guarantee compliance with ISO standards. The laboratory must then complete an application form detailing their capabilities before being assessed by an REB team who will decide whether they meet all the necessary criteria to be granted accreditation. Once this assessment has been completed satisfactorily then the laboratory can apply for formal recognition from AALAla.

The frequency of reaccreditations depends on what type of test or calibration your organization performs and which specific requirements it meets when evaluated by an REB team conducting assessments according to ISO standards. Generally speaking however it is recommended labs are reaccredited every three years at minimum.

Yes – depending on where you are located you may be eligible for financial assistance in order to help with costs associated with getting your lab certified via AALAla. For example some local governments may offer grants which can help offset expenditure related to staff training or upgrade costs during certification.

Yes – due to extremely high standards set forth by AAILA it may require specialist technicians or personnel depending on what type of tests your lab conducts. It’s important all members understand both what they need to do individually as well as collectively within AAILA’s framework.