The National Lead Laboratory Accreditation Program (NLLAP)

What Is NLLAP and Why Was It Created?

Find an Accredited Lead Testing Laboratory

Find the current list of accredited lead testing laboratories.

The National Lead Laboratory Accreditation Program (NLLAP) is an EPA program that defines the minimum requirements and abilities that a laboratory must meet to attain EPA recognition as an accredited lead testing laboratory. EPA established NLLAP to recognize laboratories that demonstrate the ability to accurately analyze paint chips, dust, or soil samples for lead.

Fixed-site laboratories, mobile laboratories, and testing firms that operate portable equipment are all eligible to obtain EPA recognition under NLLAP. An organization may choose to be recognized for one, two, or all three of the sample types (paint chips, dust, and soil). The presence of lead could be a serious concern if you are a homeowner, prospective home buyer, or the manager/owner of a school or building. When the collection and analysis of potential sources of lead becomes necessary, you may choose to use an EPA-recognized NLLAP laboratory to conduct such analyses for paint chips, dust, or soil samples.

How Does NLLAP Work****?**

NLLAP ensures that participating laboratories have met EPA requirements and demonstrated the capability to accurately analyze paint chips, dust, or soil samples for lead. All laboratories recognized by EPA under NLLAP are required to undergo on-site assessments conducted by an accrediting organization (also called an accreditation body) participating in NLLAP, and to successfully perform on a continual basis in the Environmental Lead Proficiency Analytical Testing (ELPAT) Program. The ELPAT is the EPA-approved laboratory performance proficiency testing program administered by the American Industrial Hygiene Association to ensure that laboratories continue to accurately analyze samples for lead.

A list of EPA-recognized NLLAP laboratories is provided to the public so homeowners, lead inspectors, lead risk assessors and contractors can find EPA-recognized labs for lead sample analysis.

Laboratories and other testing firms recognized under NLLAP follow the

Laboratory Quality System Requirements (LQSR) (pdf)

(398.27 KB)

, developed by EPA. The LQSR identifies the minimum requirements laboratories must meet for use by accrediting organizations when evaluating laboratories performing environmental testing activities under NLLAP. It is based on the requirements of the International Organization for Standardization and International Electrochemical Commission (ISO/IEC) Standard 17025:2005 (E) General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories.

Revisions to the Laboratory Quality System Requirements (LQSR)

On October 23, 2024, EPA published a notification in the Federal Register announcing finalized revisions to the LQSR. The finalized revisions were made after receiving public comments on the proposed draft and update and streamline the guidance by referencing existing laboratory standards already in practice by NLLAP participating laboratories and directly related to laboratory lead analysis, and to update the test and sampling method standards to better complement EPA’s lead-based paint program activities.

For more information read the Federal Register Notice.

**Testing for Lead in Your Home

The presence of lead could be a serious concern. If your home was built before 1978 and you suspect it contains lead-based paint, have your home tested for lead and learn about potential lead hazards. If you suspect you have lead paint or other lead hazard, you may choose to test for the presence of lead using an EPA-recognized NLLAP laboratory by following these steps:

• Hire a certified professional to check for lead-based paint.
• Review EPA’s national list of EPA-recognized NLLAP laboratories.
• Locate a laboratory in your area from the list.
• Contact the laboratory for lead paint, soil or dust testing instructions.

When Must Samples Be Analyzed by an EPA-Recognized NLLAP Laboratory?

In states, territories and tribes where EPA is operating a federal Lead-Based Paint Activity program, any paint chips, dust or soil samples collected in a risk assessment, lead hazard screen, or post-abatement dust-lead testing must be analyzed by a laboratory or testing firm recognized by EPA under NLLAP.

In states, territories or Tribes where the state, territory or Tribe administers its own EPA-authorized program, the requirements for the analysis of paint chips, dust, and soil samples by an EPA-recognized NLLAP laboratory or testing firm are a minimum requirement. Even though the overall program is authorized by EPA, a state, territory or Tribe may have additional testing regulations that are more stringent than EPA requirements. To be sure what the requirements are, check with the state or Tribal program where sampling will be conducted.

For information on whether your state, territory or Tribe has a federal Lead-Based Paint Activity program or an EPA-authorized state/Tribal program, access the list of states, territories and tribes with Lead-Based Paint Abatement Programs Authorized by EPA or call the National Lead Information Center at 1-800-424-LEAD (5323).

It is possible for a city or other local government to have its own additional regulations, so check in your locality as well for any testing requirements. Private individuals may wish to have samples tested for lead that meet EPA recognition.

Find an EPA-recognized NLLAP laboratory.

EPA-Recognized Accrediting Organizations

EPA currently recognizes five accrediting organizations to assess laboratories seeking accreditation under NLLAP for lead sample analysis.

• American Industrial Hygiene Association Laboratory Accreditation Programs, LLC (AIHA LAP, LLC)
• American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA)
• Perry Johnson Laboratory Accreditation, Inc. (PJLA)
• ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board (ANAB)
• International Accreditation Service (IAS)

To apply for accreditation as a lead sample analysis laboratory under NLLAP, contact one of these four accrediting organizations.

For organizations, including states that wish to apply to be recognized as an accrediting organization under NLLAP, EPA has developed a Model Memorandum of Agreement (PDF) that can be submitted to EPA for approval.

Additional Information

Reports and documents related to NLLAP are listed below.

• National Lead Laboratory Accreditation Program: Double-Blind Proficiency Testing Pilot Study (PDF), March 2001 (EPA 747-R-01-004), documents the design, execution, results, and conclusions of a pilot study to gather information on how a double-blind proficiency-testing program could be incorporated within the EPA's NLLAP.
• Selecting a Laboratory to Analyze Lead Samples (PDF), January 2026 (EPA 747-F-26-003), is a fact sheet for lead sampling technicians, and lead-based paint inspectors and risk assessors on how to select a laboratory to analyze lead samples.
• Survey of State Lead Laboratory Accreditation Programs (PDF), November 1996 (EPA 747-R-96-010), a report with the results of a survey of the 50 states and the District of Columbia on laboratory accreditation issues pertaining to the analysis of paint chips, dust, and soil for lead.
• Pb-Based Paint Laboratory Accreditation: Curricula Recommendations for Assessor Training Programs, Revision 1.0 (PDF), May 1993 (EPA 747-R-92-005), includes recommendations for site assessor training curricula for assessors of laboratories that analyze lead (Pb).
• Pb-Based Paint Laboratory Operations Guidelines: Analysis of Pb in Paint, Dust, and Soil, Revision 1.0 (PDF), May 1993 (EPA 747-R-92-006), provides information to assist those laboratories seeking accreditation and information for laboratory chemists performing analysis for lead in paint, soil, and deposited dust, including wipe samples and vacuumed dust.
• Laboratory Accreditation Program Guidelines: Measurement of Lead in Paint, Dust, and Soil (PDF), March 1992 (EPA 747-R-92-001), summarizes the results of meetings on guidelines and recommendations for conducting an intergovernmental agency laboratory accreditation program.

Where this page came from

This page was imported from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and, as a work of the United States government, in the public domain; material credited to others is left out.

Nobody has written it yet — it is the source material at a new address, which is why search engines are asked to skip it and why no one earns from it. It is up for grabs: take it on, and it is yours to rewrite and to earn from.