22 NIST Handbook 150-2016

Annex A

(normative)

Referencing NVLAP accreditation

A.1 General

The term NVLAP and the NVLAP logo are registered marks of the Federal Government, which retains 

exclusive rights to control the use thereof. Permission to use the term and symbol (see 1.5.19) is granted 

to NVLAP-accredited laboratories for the limited purpose of announcing their accredited status, and for 

use on reports that describe only testing or calibration within the scope of accreditation. NVLAP reserves 

the right to control the quality of the use of the NVLAP term, logo, and symbol.

The NVLAP symbol clearly indicates the activity to which the accreditation is related through 

incorporation of the unique NVLAP Lab Code and the word “testing” or “calibration.”

The procedures for the use of the Combined ILAC MRA Mark by accredited laboratories within the scope 

of the ILAC MRA are set out in Annex E.

A.2 Conditions for referencing NVLAP accreditation

In order to become and remain accredited, laboratories shall comply with the following conditions 

pertaining to the use of the term NVLAP, the NVLAP logo, and NVLAP symbol. Failure to comply with 

these conditions may result in suspension or revocation of a laboratory’s accreditation.

a) An accredited laboratory shall have a policy and procedure for controlling the use of the term 

NVLAP and the NVLAP symbol. The procedure shall be unique and include actions to be taken 

specific to the laboratory.

b) An applicant laboratory that has not yet achieved accreditation may make reference to its applicant 

status. If the NVLAP Lab Code is used, it shall be accompanied by a statement accurately 

reflecting the laboratory’s status. An applicant laboratory shall not use the NVLAP logo or symbol.

c) The term and/or symbol shall not be used in a manner that brings NVLAP into disrepute or 

misrepresents a laboratory’s scope of accreditation or accredited status.

d) When the term NVLAP is used to reference a laboratory’s accredited status, it shall be accompanied 

by the NVLAP Lab Code.

e) The use of the NVLAP term and/or symbol on a laboratory’s test or calibration reports shall be 

limited to the specific location(s), site(s), or field activity(ies) as identified on the scope of the 

accreditation.

f) A test or calibration report bearing the term and/or symbol shall include a statement that the report 

must not be used by the client to claim product certification, approval, or endorsement by NVLAP, 

NIST, or any agency of the U.S. Government.

g) A laboratory shall not use the terms certified or registered when referencing its NVLAP 

accreditation or its conformance to ISO/IEC 17025. The correct term is accredited.
NIST Handbook 150-2016 23

h) When an accredited laboratory uses the term and/or symbol in a contract or proposal, the laboratory 

shall reference its current accreditation status and provide a copy of, or link to its scope of 

accreditation.

A.3 Reproduction of NVLAP symbol

A.3.1 The following rules shall apply when a laboratory uses the NVLAP symbol to reference its 

accredited status.

a) The type of activity (testing or calibration) and the NVLAP Lab Code shall appear below and in 

close proximity to the logo (Fig. 1). The width of the caption shall not exceed the width of the logo 

itself.

b) The symbol shall stand by itself and shall not be combined with any other logo, symbol, or graphic. 

As an exception to this rule, the NVLAP symbol may be used in combination with the ILAC MRA 

Mark by accredited laboratories under the provisions set forth in Annex E.

c) The aspect ratio (width to height) of the NVLAP logo shall be 2.25 to 1.

d) The symbol shall be of a size that allows the caption ( type of activity and NVLAP Lab Code) to be 

easily read.

e) The symbol may be filled or unfilled. In the case of a filled symbol, the same color shall be used 

for the outline and the fill.

NOTE Electronic copies of the NVLAP logo are available from NVLAP upon request.

A.4 Approved signatories

The name of at least one Approved Signatory shall appear on a test or calibration report that displays the 

NVLAP symbol or references NVLAP accreditation. A computer-generated report may have the 

Approved Signatory’s name printed along with the test or calibration results, as long as there is evidence 

that there is a system in place to ensure that the report cannot be generated without the review and consent 

of the Approved Signatory. There may be legal or contractual requirements for original signatures to 

appear on the report.

NOTE: NVLAP defines the person(s) who authorizes the test report or calibration certificate as the Approved 

Signatory (see 1.5.2).

A.5 Reporting results not covered by the scope of accreditation

A.5.1 The laboratory may use the term and/or symbol on test or calibration reports when some or all of 

the data are from tests or calibrations performed by the laboratory under its scope of accreditation. The 

laboratory shall not use the term and/or symbol on a report that contains no accredited data.

A.5.2 A test or calibration report that contains both data covered by the accreditation and data not 

covered by the accreditation shall clearly identify the data that are not covered by the accreditation. The 

report must prominently display the following statement at the beginning of the report: “This report 

contains data that are not covered by the NVLAP accreditation.”
24 NIST Handbook 150-2016

A.5.3 If a customer requests an accredited laboratory to generate a test or calibration report based on 

data obtained by another laboratory, the accredited laboratory shall ensure that it is not misrepresenting 

the data as being covered under its accreditation. The test or calibration report shall meet the requirements 

of ISO/IEC 17025:2005, 5.10.2 b), as well as the conditions for referencing NVLAP accreditation found 

in this annex.

A.5.4 The laboratory shall not: issue a test or calibration report that:

a) contains data not generated specifically for the product identified in that report without an 

indication of the original source of the data; or

b) uses the NVLAP term and/or symbol for data from tests not performed by the laboratory.

When NVLAP obtains any such reports, the laboratory shall be required to apply its procedures for 

control of nonconforming work and take corrective action. Depending on the circumstances, a 

laboratory’s accreditation status may be affected.

A.5.5 The NVLAP symbol shall not be included on correspondence that covers a test or calibration 

report in which none of the results are within the scope of accreditation, or that covers work proposals or 

quotes if none of the work is within the scope of accreditation.

A.6 Calibration labels on equipment

A.6.1 A laboratory may attach a calibration label containing the NVLAP symbol to an item of 

equipment that it has calibrated provided that the equipment has been calibrated using calibration methods 

covered by the laboratory’s scope of accreditation.

A.6.2 Calibration labels containing the NVLAP symbol shall not give the impression that NVLAP has 

approved or calibrated the equipment.

A.6.3 In addition, the calibration label usually includes the following information:

a) the name of the accredited calibration laboratory;

b) equipment identification;

c) date of calibration;

d) cross reference to the calibration certificate issued in respect of the calibration.

A.7 Subcontracted tests and calibrations

A.7.1 When the term and/or symbol are used on test or calibration reports that also include work done 

by subcontracted laboratories, such use shall be limited to reports in which some or all of the data are 

from tests or calibrations performed by the contracted laboratory under its scope of accreditation.

A.7.2 A test or calibration report that contains both data covered by the accreditation of the contracted 

laboratory and data provided by a subcontractor shall clearly identify the data that were provided by the 

subcontracted laboratory. The report must prominently display the following statement at the beginning of 

the report: “This report contains data that were produced under subcontract by Laboratory X.” If the 

subcontracted laboratory is accredited by NVLAP, then its Lab Code should also be stated. If the 
NIST Handbook 150-2016 25

subcontracted laboratory is accredited by a body other than NVLAP, then the name of the accreditation 

body and the laboratory’s number or other unique identifier shall also be stated. If the subcontracted 

laboratory is not accredited, then this must be stated.

A.8 Opinions and interpretations

A.8.1 When opinions and interpretations are covered by the NVLAP scope of accreditation, they may 

be included on a report endorsed with the NVLAP symbol only when the requirements of 

ISO/IEC 17025:2005, 5.10.5 are met; i.e., opinions and interpretations shall be clearly marked.

A.8.2 Where such statements of opinion and interpretation are outside the scope of accreditation, the 

report shall display the following disclaimer close to the NVLAP symbol or to the expression of opinion: 

“The opinions/interpretations expressed in this report are outside the scope of this laboratory’s 

accreditation.”

A.9 Advertising and promotional materials

A.9.1 An accredited laboratory may use the NVLAP symbol in advertising or promotional materials 

concerning the laboratory’s accreditation, provided that the laboratory fully conforms to the requirements 

for claiming accreditation status and ensures there is no misrepresentation of the status and the scope of 

accreditation.

A.9.2 Permitted uses of the NVLAP symbol in advertising and promotional materials include:

a) letterheads;

b) brochures and publications;

c) business cards (as long as the symbol is not used in a way that could imply personnel certification);

d) websites;

e) other communication media.

A.9.3 When a laboratory uses the NVLAP symbol in advertising and promotional materials, such as a 

webpage banner or product catalog, such use shall not imply NVLAP endorsement or approval of the 

advertised products or items. Further, the accredited laboratory shall ensure that these requirements for 

referencing NVLAP accreditation are incorporated into contracts to perform work for distributors or 

resellers of a product that has been tested or calibrated by the accredited laboratory; i.e., a product 

distributor or reseller shall not reference NVLAP accreditation in a manner that implies that the 

distributor or reseller is accredited or can produce accredited test or calibration results. The accredited 

laboratory shall also ensure that each distributor or reseller includes a disclaimer when referencing the 

accredited laboratory’s accreditation stating the distributor or reseller is not accredited by NVLAP.

A.9.4 When using the NVLAP symbol for advertising and promotional materials, an organization with 

multiple laboratory accreditations may list all of its NVLAP Lab Codes beneath the logo to form the 

symbol (see example in Fig. 2) or use another means of conveying the same information that is approved 

by NVLAP. However, this form of the symbol shall not be used on laboratory reports and certificates. 

Organizations that have both accredited and unaccredited sites shall ensure that when the NVLAP symbol 

is used in corporate advertising and promotional materials, such use does not imply that accreditation is 
26 NIST Handbook 150-2016

held for sites that are not accredited and does not misrepresent the scope of accreditation at accredited 

sites.

NOTE: Other variations for the symbol for use in advertising by laboratories with multiple accreditations may be 

approved on a case-by-case basis by NVLAP.

A.10 Misuse of NVLAP term, logo, or symbol

A.10.1 NVLAP investigates any evidence of misuse of the NVLAP symbol or claim of accreditation 

status. The actions taken by NVLAP to address violations of its policy and procedures for referencing 

NVLAP accreditation may include requests for corrective action, suspension of accreditation, and/or legal 

action, as necessary.

A.10.2 NVLAP has procedures to ensure that an accredited laboratory discontinues the use of the 

NVLAP symbol or any reference to NVLAP accreditation status for testing or calibration immediately on 

suspension, revocation, or voluntary termination of the accreditation (see 3.10, 3.11, and 3.12). This 

includes any reference to NVLAP accreditation in test and calibration reports, correspondence, 

promotional materials, and advertising, including laboratory websites.

A.11 Examples of the NVLAP symbol

Figure 1. NVLAP symbol.

TESTING (OR CALIBRATION)

NVLAP LAB CODE 123456-0
NIST Handbook 150-2016 27

Figure 2. Example of NVLAP symbol for a laboratory with multiple accreditations

(used for advertising and promotional purposes only)

TESTING (OR CALIBRATION)

NVLAP LAB CODE 000000-0

NVLAP LAB CODE 000001-0

NVLAP LAB CODE 000002-0

NVLAP LAB CODE 000003-0