- Accreditation body
- NABL, a constituent board of the Quality Council of India
- Standard for medical labs
- ISO 15189:2022 — requirements for quality and competence
- Applications
- Online through NABL's portal; a new medical application portal went live in August 2025
- Alternative first step
- NABH Medical Laboratory certification (2 years)
NABL or NABH lab certification?
| NABH medical laboratory certification | NABL accreditation | |
|---|---|---|
| Body | NABH (QCI) | NABL (QCI) |
| Basis | NABH's laboratory standards, 3rd Edition | ISO 15189:2022 |
| Scope | Whole-lab foundation certification | Test-by-test scope of accreditation |
| Validity | 2 years | Cycle with surveillance, as per NABL |
| Best for | A first quality system | Hospital labs, referral labs, scheme and insurer tie-ups |
Many labs earn NABH certification first and move to NABL when their quality system is mature.
How we prepare a lab for NABL
- Scope and gap analysis — which tests to include first, and how your current system compares with ISO 15189:2022.
- Quality manual and procedures — document control, management review, risk management, complaints, non-conforming work and corrective action.
- Technical requirements — method verification and validation, measurement uncertainty, metrological traceability, internal quality control and EQAS or inter-laboratory comparison.
- People — training and competence records, authorisation of signatories.
- Internal audit and management review, then application and assessment support.
CGHS empanelment rules give weight to NABL: hospitals in Tier-II and Tier-III cities may tie up with a NABL-accredited lab if they keep an in-house collection centre. See CGHS empanelment.
Frequently asked questions
What is NABL accreditation for labs?
NABL accreditation is formal recognition by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories that a medical laboratory meets ISO 15189, the international standard for quality and competence of medical laboratories, for the tests in its scope.
Is NABL the same as NABH?
No. Both are constituent boards of the Quality Council of India. NABH accredits and certifies healthcare organisations, including a laboratory certification programme; NABL accredits testing and calibration laboratories, including medical labs to ISO 15189.
Which version of ISO 15189 applies now?
Medical laboratories are assessed against ISO 15189:2022. In August 2025 NABL launched a new medical application portal for ISO 15189:2022 applicants.
Official sources
Fees and rules change. Always confirm on the official page before you apply.
Get a free gap assessment for your facility
Tell us your facility type, bed or chair count and city. Dr. Ashutosh Sharma will tell you which NABH programme fits, what it will cost and how long it will realistically take — before you commit to anything.
Related
- Medical laboratories (NABH certification)NABH medical laboratory certification for hospital and standalone labs: documents, 2-year fees by daily patients and how it differs from NABL.
- Allopathic clinics & polyclinicsNABH Allopathic Clinics accreditation (2nd Edition) for OPD clinics, dispensaries and polyclinics: eligibility, fees from ₹5,000 + ₹15,000/yr, process.
- CGHS empanelmentCGHS empanelment via NABH's ECE portal: eligibility, 50/30 bed minimums, lab and imaging rules, NABH fees, the 2025 rate revision and how we help.