The Environmental Laboratory Certification Program certifies laboratories to use chemical and biological techniques in testing a wide variety of matrices, including drinking water, non-potable water, solid and chemical materials, biological tissue, and air.
Through periodic proficiency testing and on-site assessments, certified laboratories must demonstrate that they have the capability to produce high quality testing results in the interests of protecting the health and environment of Florida’s citizens.
- Application for Certification of Environmental Testing Laboratories
- NELAP Certified Laboratory Search
- Florida Department of Health Rule 64E-1, Florida Administrative Code Certification of Environmental Testing Laboratories
Public Health Laboratories
The Florida Department of Health’s Public Health Laboratories provides diagnostic screening, monitoring, reference, research, and emergency public health laboratory services to county health departments and other official agencies, physicians, hospitals, and private laboratories.
Program History
The Florida Environmental Laboratory Certification Program was established in 1979 to ensure laboratory quality and capacity to perform testing of drinking water regulated under the Florida Safe Drinking Water Act. The legislature expanded the scope of the program in 1986 to cover domestic wastewater testing conducted under the Clean Water Act as well as certification for other types of environmental testing.
Under the leadership and fundamental groundwork of then bureau chief, Dr. Charles Hartwig, the Florida program took an active role in establishing the National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Conference (NELAC) and Program (NELAP), becoming one of the first of 13 Accreditation Bodies in the U.S. recognized under the program in 1999. Today the Environmental Laboratory Certification Program continues to be active in the development and adoption of national consensus accreditation standards through the work of the NELAC Institute (TNI).
National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program
- NELAC Institute
- Proficiency Testing Providers Recognized by NELAP and DOH – compliant with the NELAC standards
- National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Conference (NELAC)