Accreditations and Proficiency
Special Pathogens Laboratory is accredited in accordance with recognized International Standard ISO/IEC 17025, General Requirements for the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories by American Association of Laboratory Accreditations (A2LA).
- Special Pathogens Laboratory is also accredited by New York State Department of Health for meeting requirements of the Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (ELAP) and the National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (NELAP).
- Special Pathogens Laboratory is registered in the State of Connecticut by Department of Public Health.
- Additionally, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) accredits the laboratory for meeting requirements of the National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (NELAP). The accreditations by multiple accrediting bodies demonstrate the technical competence and quality operation for defined scopes of testing water.
For the State of New York, Special Pathogens Laboratory holds New York State Department of Health (NY Lab ID No: 12024) ELAP certification in Legionella testing in Nonpotable and Potable Water categories and secondary ELAP accreditation for HPC. Special Pathogens Laboratory is also registered in the State of Connecticut for Legionella testing in the Drinking Water, Non-Potable Water/Wasterwater category (PH 0125).
Special Pathogens Laboratory is also proficiency certified through the CDC Environmental Legionella Isolation Techniques Evaluation Program (ELITE) for testing all water types for Legionella by culture and participates in an international proficiency program through Public Health of England (PHE).
A2LA
The American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) is a nonprofit, non-governmental, public service, membership society. A2LA provides comprehensive services in laboratory accreditation and laboratory-related training. In completing the A2LA evaluation process, Special Pathogens Laboratory is accredited to perform the following tests (certificate No. 2847.01) on potable and non-potable environmental water and swabs:
| TEST | REFERENCE METHOD(s) | TEST METHOD(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Culture Test: Legionella | ISO 11731 | SPL M01, SPL M04 |
| Heterotrophic Plate Count | SM 9215E | SPL M06 |
| Environmental Culture: Pseudomonas aeruginosa | ASTM International D 5246; SM 9213E | SPL M02 |
NELAP
Special Pathogens Laboratory is accredited by NELAP through the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP Laboratory ID: 02-04660) to test drinking water for the following:
| TEST | METHOD | PRIMARY |
|---|---|---|
| Heterotrophic Bacteria (Enumeration) | SM 9215E | Pennsylvania |
| Total Coliform and E. coli | SM 9223 (Colilert) | Pennsylvania |
New York
- ELAP accredited for Legionella testing in Non–Potable and Potable Water testing by the New York State Department of Health (NY Lab ID No: 12024).
- Secondary NELAP accredited for Heterotrophic Plate Count and Total Coliform and E.coli by the New York State Department of Health (NY Lab ID No: 12024).
Connecticut
- Registered for Legionella testing in Drinking Water/Non-Potable/Wastewater testing by the Connecticut Department of Health (Registration No: PH 0125).
PA DEP
- NELAP accredited for Heterotrophic Bacteria and Total Coliform and E.coli by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP Laboratory ID: 02-04660).
Legionella Proficiency Programs
Legionella culture and identification requires special knowledge and expertise not found in most microbiology laboratories. Our skill and experience gives you absolute confidence that the results you receive from Special Pathogens Laboratory are reliable. Special Pathogens Laboratory is proficiency certified through the CDC Environmental Legionella Isolation Techniques Evaluation Program (ELITE) for testing all water types for Legionella by culture since 2009 and participates in an international proficiency program through Public Health of England (PHE).
- CDC-Elite Program
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) began a Legionella proficiency program, the Environmental Legionella Isolation Techniques Evaluation (ELITE) in 2009. The CDC had recognized the need for laboratories to be capable and competent in performing Legionella testing. Some laboratories have failed to detect Legionella and outbreaks have occurred because the institution was unaware of the presence of Legionella in their water system(s).
- The U.K. Public Health England (PHE)
In 2007, no Legionella proficiency programs were available in the United States. That’s why Special Pathogens Laboratory started participating in the international program. The program in Europe serves laboratories of the European Working Group on Legionella Infections, as well as other interested testing labs. Managed by the U.K. Public Health England (PHE), formerly Health Protection Agency (HPA), Special Pathogens Laboratory is one of the few labs in the US that participates in this program. The PHE proficiency program is accredited by internationally recognized organizations and is used in more than 70 countries. The international organization of the European Working Group on Legionella Infections (EWGLI) recommends participation in the Legionella proficiency program provided by the PHE.
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