WAC 173-50-020   Scope.  (1) The Washington state environmental laboratory accreditation program (WA ELAP) applies to laboratories which conduct tests for or prepare analytical data for submittal to any entity requiring the use of an accredited laboratory. This includes laboratories that analyze drinking water.

     (2) Accreditation in itself does not authorize use of a specific method for any specific program or project. If such authorization is not granted in documentation governing a program or project within which samples are being analyzed, authorization should be obtained from the laboratory's data user.

     (3) Accreditation does not guarantee validity of analytical data submitted by the accredited laboratory but rather assures that the laboratory has demonstrated its capability to reliably generate and report the analytical data (WAC 173-50-040, definition of "accreditation").



[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.21A.230, 43.20.050 and 2009 c 564 § 301. 10-17-032 (Order 09-09), § 173-50-020, filed 8/9/10, effective 9/9/10. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.21A.230. 02-20-090 (Order 01-12), § 173-50-020, filed 10/1/02, effective 11/1/02; 89-10-001 and 90-07-017 (Order 89-1 and 89-1A), § 173-50-020, filed 4/20/89 and 3/13/90, effective 4/13/90.]