NABL

What NABL does

NABL (National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories) is India's national accreditation body, operating as an autonomous constituent board of the Quality Council of India (QCI), a government-affiliated quality assurance body. It provides third-party accreditation services to conformity assessment bodies including testing laboratories (ISO/IEC 17025), calibration laboratories (ISO/IEC 17025), medical laboratories (ISO 15189), proficiency testing providers (ISO/IEC 17043), reference material producers (ISO 17034), and biobanks (ISO 20387). NABL's accreditation is internationally recognized through signatory status to the ILAC and APAC Mutual Recognition Arrangements, enabling global acceptance of accredited test and calibration results.

NABL's product portfolio extends beyond core accreditation to specialized programs including the Government Drinking Water Testing Laboratory Accreditation Program (G-LAP), the Medical (Entry Level) Testing Labs (M(EL)T) program, Product Based Accreditation, Temporary Site Laboratories Testing, Soil Testing Laboratory Program, and an Integrated Assessment Scheme. The organization distributes its services through a centralized web portal (nablwp.qci.org.in) for applications and a public laboratory search tool, supported by four regional offices in New Delhi (headquarters), Bengaluru (South), Kolkata (East), and Ahmedabad (West). NABL also runs an Assessor Training Course to develop qualified assessors for evaluating conformity assessment bodies.

NABL generates revenue through accreditation fees structured by category, including application fees, assessment fees, and annual surveillance fees, with a 4-year accreditation cycle and annual on-site surveillance. The pricing model is best characterized as professional services with per-category and per-discipline fee tiers. As a government-affiliated autonomous body under QCI, NABL operates on a fee-for-service model and is not venture-capital funded or publicly traded. It maintains regulatory oversight through published lists of suspended, withdrawn, and adverse-action laboratories, enforcing quality standards across the accredited ecosystem.

Name

NABL

Legal name

National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories

Website

https://nabl-india.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

NABL is India's national accreditation body and constituent board of the Quality Council of India, providing third-party accreditation to testing, calibration, medical, PTP, RMP, and biobank laboratories under international ISO standards, with ILAC and APAC global recognition.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Laboratory Accreditation Services

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (54138)

akta.pro primary industry

Standards, Metrology & Accreditation Bodies (BPAIAOAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Quality Assurance/Quality Control & Accreditation (QA plans, proficiency testing, ISO/IEC 17025) (EUANAJAK), Laboratory Quality Systems, Accreditation & Proficiency Testing Programs (HLAJAIAM), Quality Management & Regulatory Compliance (CLIA/CAP/ISO) for Labs (HLACAMAH), Accreditation Coordination, Recognition & Meta-Accreditation Bodies (EDADACAH)

Keywords

• Laboratory accreditation services
• Conformity assessment body
• Testing laboratory accreditation
• Medical laboratory accreditation
• Proficiency testing accreditation

Headquarters

HQ city

Haryana

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Accreditation Fees: NABL generates revenue through accreditation fees charged to conformity assessment bodies (testing, calibration, medical laboratories, PT providers, reference material producers, and biobanks). Fees are structured per category and include application fees, assessment fees, and annual surveillance fees. The accreditation certificate is valid for 4 years with annual surveillance.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

NABL provides third-party accreditation services to conformity assessment bodies in India, including testing laboratories, calibration laboratories, medical laboratories, proficiency testing providers, reference material producers, and biobanks. Accreditation is granted per international standards such as ISO/IEC 17025, ISO 15189, ISO/IEC 17043, ISO 17034, and ISO 20387, and is valid for 4 years with annual surveillance. NABL also runs specialized programs (e.g., G-LAP, M(EL)T Labs, Soil Testing, Temporary Site Labs) and an Assessor Training Course for evaluators.

Product overview

NABL (National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories) is a constituent board of the Quality Council of India that provides accreditation services for conformity assessment bodies in India. The organization operates as a platform offering multiple accreditation programs including Testing Laboratory Accreditation (ISO/IEC 17025), Calibration Laboratory Accreditation (ISO/IEC 17025), Medical Laboratory Accreditation (ISO 15189), Proficiency Testing Provider Accreditation (ISO/IEC 17043), Reference Material Producer Accreditation (ISO 17034), and Biobank Accreditation (ISO 20387). Beyond core accreditation services, NABL offers specialized programs such as the Government Drinking Water Testing Laboratory Accreditation Program (G-LAP), Medical Entry Level Testing Labs (M(EL)T) Program, Product Based Accreditation, and Temporary Site Laboratories Testing. The organization provides an online laboratory search portal for finding accredited facilities and runs assessor training courses. NABL maintains international recognition through ILAC and APAC mutual recognition arrangements, enabling international acceptance of accredited laboratory results.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Testing Laboratory Accreditation Accreditation services for testing laboratories based on ISO/IEC 17025, covering disciplines including Biological, Chemical, Electrical, Electronics, Fluid-Flow, Mechanical, Non-Destructive Testing, Photometry, Radiological, Diagnostic Radiology QA testing, Forensic, and Software & IT System. Targeted at testing laboratories in India seeking formal recognition of competence.
• Calibration Laboratory Accreditation Accreditation services for calibration laboratories based on ISO/IEC 17025, covering Electro-Technical, Mechanical, Fluid Flow, Thermal, Radiological, Optical, and Medical Devices disciplines. For calibration laboratories in India.
• Medical Laboratory Accreditation
• Proficiency Testing Provider (PTP) Accreditation Accreditation for proficiency testing providers based on ISO/IEC 17043, covering Testing, Calibration, Medical, and Inspection fields. For PT providers organizing inter-laboratory comparisons in India.
• Reference Material Producer (RMP) Accreditation Accreditation for reference material producers based on ISO 17034:2016, covering Chemical Composition, Biological & Clinical Properties, Physical Properties, Engineering Properties, and Miscellaneous Properties categories. Rs. 25,000/Category (upto 2 sub-categories) + Applicable GST. For RMPs in India.
• Biobank Accreditation Accreditation for biobanks based on ISO 20387, covering Human, Veterinary, Plant Material, and Microorganisms collections. For biobanks holding biological materials in India.
• Government Drinking Water Testing Laboratory Accreditation Program (G-LAP) Specialized accreditation program for government drinking water testing laboratories at State Level, District Level, and Block/Sub-Divisional Level.
• NABL Medical (Entry Level) Testing Labs (M(EL)T Labs) Program Recognition program for entry-level medical testing laboratories with simplified criteria and requirements.
• Product Based Accreditation Accreditation program for product testing laboratories under specific product categories.
• Temporary Site Laboratories Testing Program for testing aggregates and concrete in building projects at temporary site locations.
• Soil Testing Laboratory Program Accreditation scheme for soil testing laboratories based on ISO/IEC 17025.
• Integrated Assessment Scheme Combined assessment and recognition process for testing laboratories that integrates requirements from multiple regulatory bodies.
• Assessor Training Course Training program for developing assessors who evaluate conformity assessment bodies for accreditation, covering eligibility criteria, course content, and application process.
• NABL Laboratory Search Portal Online searchable portal for finding NABL accredited laboratories across testing, calibration, medical, PTP, and RMP categories with filtering by location, field, discipline, and group.

Quantifiable outcome

• Accredited medical laboratories receive 15% higher rates than non-accredited laboratories under CGHS (Central Government Health Scheme)

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Quality Council of India (QCI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNABL is a Constituent Board of the Quality Council of India (QCI). QCI is the parent organization that established NABL with the objective of providing Government, Industry Associations and Industry with a scheme of Conformity Assessment Body's accreditation involving third-party assessment of technical competence.
• International Laboratory Accreditation Co-operation (ILAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNABL is a signatory to ILAC Arrangements for accreditation of Testing (including Medical) and Calibration laboratories based on mutual evaluation and acceptance of MRA Partner laboratory accreditation systems. ILAC facilitates acceptance of test/calibration results between countries.
• Asia Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (APAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNABL is a signatory to APAC Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRA) for accreditation of Testing (including Medical), Calibration laboratories, and Reference Material Producers (ISO 17034). APAC peer evaluation enables international recognition of NABL-accredited laboratories.
• National Physical Laboratory (NPL)coreTechnology or IntegrationNPL is India's primary measurement standards laboratory. NABL-accredited laboratories establish metrological traceability to appropriate measurement standards such as those maintained by NPL, ensuring measurement accuracy and international equivalence.
• International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM)coreTechnology or IntegrationBIPM is the international organization that maintains the International System of Units (SI). NABL requires laboratories to establish metrological traceability to the SI through BIPM-affiliated national metrology institutes like NPL.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• ANAB (ANSI National Accreditation Board): ANAB is the US accreditation body under ANSI offering ISO/IEC 17025, ISO 15189, ISO/IEC 17043, and ISO 17034 accreditation. It is directly comparable to NABL in scope, ILAC MRA participation, and multi-scheme operations.
• A2LA (American Association for Laboratory Accreditation): A2LA is the US national laboratory accreditation body, signatory to ILAC and APAC MRA, providing ISO/IEC 17025, ISO 15189, ISO/IEC 17043, and ISO 17034 accreditation across testing, calibration, medical, PTP, and RMP — directly mirroring NABL's product set. It is the closest international analogue to NABL.
• CNAS (China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment): CNAS is China's national accreditation body under SAMR, providing testing, calibration, medical, PTP, and RMP accreditation across the same ISO standards as NABL, with ILAC and APAC MRA signatory status — a near-identical mandate and product set.
• ENAC (Entidad Nacional de Acreditación): ENAC is Spain's national accreditation body operating ISO/IEC 17025, 15189, 17043, and 17034 schemes with ILAC and EA MRA recognition — directly comparable to NABL's mandate and product set.
• DAkkS (Deutsche Akkreditierungsstelle): DAkkS is Germany's national accreditation body providing ISO/IEC 17025, 15189, 17043, and 17034 accreditation across testing, calibration, medical, and reference material producers. Comparable to NABL in scope and ILAC MRA participation.
• UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service): UKAS is the UK national accreditation body, operating the same ISO/IEC 17025 / 15189 / 17043 / 17034 / 20387 schemes as NABL, with ILAC and APAC MRA signatory status. It is a direct functional peer in lab accreditation scope and international recognition.
• NATA (National Association of Testing Authorities, Australia): NATA is Australia's national accreditation body for testing, calibration, medical, and reference material producers, operating under ISO/IEC 17025, 15189, 17043, and 17034 with ILAC/APAC MRA recognition — directly comparable to NABL's mandate and scheme portfolio.
• COFRAC (Comité Français d'Accréditation): COFRAC is France's national accreditation body operating testing, calibration, medical, PTP, and RMP accreditation under the same ISO standards as NABL, with ILAC and EA MRA signatory status — directly comparable in mandate and product set.

Others

• ILAC (International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation): ILAC is the global MRA body for laboratory accreditation, of which NABL is a signatory. While not an accreditation body itself, ILAC is the highest-level peer-relationship partner that gives NABL-accredited results international acceptance across over 100 economies.
• APAC (Asia Pacific Accreditation Cooperation): APAC is the regional MRA body of which NABL is a signatory; while not an accreditation body itself, it coordinates peer evaluation among accreditation bodies like NABL and is the strategic alliance partner driving NABL's international recognition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nabldc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nabl-india
• Instagraminstagram.com/nabl_qci
• Facebookfacebook.com/nabldc

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about NABL