1.1This guide covers the establishment and maintenance of a quality assurance (QA) program for analytical laboratories within the nuclear industry. References to key elements of ASME NQA-1 and ISO/IEC 17025 provide guidance to the functional aspects of analytical laboratory operations. When implemented as recommended, the practices presented in this guide will provide a comprehensive QA program for the laboratory. The practices are grouped by functions, which constitute the basic elements of a laboratory QA program.

1.2The essential, basic elements of a laboratory QA program appear in the following order:

1.3Collection of samples and associated sampling procedures are outside the scope of this guide. The user may refer to sampling practices developed by Subcommittee C26.02.

1.4Nuclear laboratories are required to handle a variety of hazardous materials, including but not limited to radioactive samples and materials. The need for proper handling of these materials is discussed in 13.2.4. While this guide focuses on the nuclear laboratory QA program, proper handling of nuclear materials is essential for proper function of the QA program.

1.5This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.