Healthcare Laundry Accreditation Council

What Healthcare Laundry Accreditation Council does

Healthcare Laundry Accreditation Council (HLAC) is a nonprofit organization founded in 2005 and headquartered in Britton, South Dakota, that inspects and accredits laundries processing reusable textiles for hospitals, nursing homes, and other healthcare facilities across the United States and Canada. HLAC is the sole independent nonprofit body in this niche and its Accreditation Standards document — covering the complete textile processing cycle from handling and transporting soiled textiles through in-plant processing and delivery — is the only laundry quality approach to have received the Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses (AORN) Seal of Recognition, awarded in 2014 and 2015. The organization has accredited approximately 180 laundry facilities as of the 2023 standards release.

The core product is the three-year HLAC Accreditation, obtained via an on-site inspection by trained inspectors who evaluate facility design, soiled-to-clean separation, policies, procedures, training programs, and customer relationships; the program also includes a dedicated Surgical Pack Room section (Part III) and, since July 2023, a voluntary Part IV Certified Hygienic Testing add-on that validates process outcomes through microbiological testing (RODAC plates for aerobic count, yeast and mold, and USP 62 pathogen testing). HLAC operates the Accreditation Portal (portal.hlacnet.org) for application submission, document management, and inspection tracking, plus a Suitdash-based portal for Certified Hygienic Testing documentation.

HLAC generates revenue through standardized fees: $5,900 per laundry organization for accreditation inspection in the US and Canada (with a special rate for organizations operating three or more facilities), plus $1,750 per certification cycle for Certified Hygienic Testing, with inspector travel expenses billed separately at actual cost. The organization is governed by a voluntary 12-member Board of Directors representing commercial laundry operators, association executives, infection prevention professionals, and industry suppliers (Ecolab, ImageFirst, Novo Health Services, Healthcare Linen Services Group, George Courey, BayCare), and is supported by a small administrative staff of 2–3 named personnel. Go-to-market combines direct field outreach to laundry decision-makers, active participation in conferences (APIC, ALM IMPACT), educational partnerships with ALM, IAHTM, and APIC, and a multi-channel content presence (website, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X/Twitter, email newsletter, and webinars).

Name

Healthcare Laundry Accreditation Council

Legal name

Healthcare Laundry Accreditation Council

Website

https://hlacnet.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

HLAC is a nonprofit founded in 2005 that inspects and accredits healthcare laundries across the US and Canada, charging $5,900 per 3-year accreditation and offering optional Certified Hygienic Testing, serving approximately 180 accredited facilities and their hospital and nursing-home customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Healthcare Laundry Accreditation Services

NAICS

Linen and Uniform Supply (81233), Industrial Launderers (812332)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Healthcare & Hospital Linen Laundry (HSAJAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Reusable Medical Textile Processing (Surgical Packs/Gowns/Drapes) (HSAJAEAL)

Keywords

• Healthcare laundry accreditation
• Healthcare textile standards
• Infection prevention certification
• Laundry inspection services
• Hygienic testing certification

Headquarters

HQ city

Rapid City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. HLAC Accreditation Inspection Fee: Laundry organizations in the US and Canada pay a fee of $5,900 per laundry organization for the accreditation inspection process. Inspector travel expenses are charged separately at actual cost. A special rate exists for organizations with three or more facilities owned by the same organization, where all applications and deposits must be submitted simultaneously. Accreditation is valid for three years.
2. Certified Hygienic Testing Certification Fee: Certified Hygienic Testing is a voluntary certification program offered in addition to HLAC Accreditation. The fee is $1,750 per certification cycle (excluding lab fees). An introductory offer provides $875 in savings (50% off first renewal), meaning $0 upfront until renewal.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Healthcare Laundry Accreditation Council (HLAC) inspects and accredits laundry organizations that process reusable healthcare textiles (linens, gowns, towels, surgical packs) for hospitals, nursing homes, and other healthcare facilities. Its three-year Accreditation program assesses facilities, policies, procedures, training programs, and healthcare customer relationships against HLAC's published standards (Parts I–IV) covering the complete textile processing cycle. It also offers Certified Hygienic Testing, a voluntary certification validating process outcomes through microbiological and yeast/mold testing.

Product overview

Healthcare Laundry Accreditation Council (HLAC) operates a unified accreditation and certification platform for healthcare textile processing facilities. The core offering is HLAC Accreditation—a three-year inspection-based program verifying compliance with published standards covering the complete textile processing cycle. This is augmented by Certified Hygienic Testing (Part IV), a voluntary certification that validates process outcomes through microbiological testing including RODAC sampling and USP 62 analysis. The product portfolio includes the HLAC Accreditation Standards documentation, on-site inspection services, and standards interpretation advisory services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• HLAC Accreditation Independent third-party accreditation program for laundry organizations that process healthcare textiles. Accreditation is valid for three years and involves thorough inspection of facilities, policies and procedures, training programs, and customer relationships, demonstrating compliance with the highest standards for patient safety and infection prevention. Fee is $5,900 per laundry organization in the US and Canada.
• Certified Hygienic Testing Voluntary third-party certification validating the laundry process through routine microbiological and yeast/mold testing on products. Includes aerobic count testing, yeast and mold testing (RODAC plates), and USP 62 pathogen testing. Fee is $1,750 per certification cycle (excluding lab fees), with an introductory $875 savings (50% off first renewal).
• Inspection Services On-site inspection services conducted by trained HLAC inspectors who review facilities, processes, policies, equipment, and personnel. Inspections include evaluation of soiled-to-clean separation, workflow design, employee training, quality control monitoring, and compliance with healthcare regulations. Inspector travel expenses are billed separately at actual cost.
• HLAC Accreditation Standards (2023 Edition) Published standards document (Accreditation Standards for Processing Reusable Textiles for use in Healthcare Facilities) covering the complete textile processing cycle from handling/transporting soiled textiles to in-plant processing and delivery. Includes Parts I–III covering facility standards and Part IV covering Certified Hygienic Testing protocols.

Quantifiable outcome

• HLAC accreditation demonstrates compliance with the highest standards for processing healthcare textiles, aligned with CDC recommendations and federal regulations.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor, flagship and core.

• Standard TextileminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Standard Textile participated as a special guest in HLAC's 2026 Annual Inspector Training, providing expert insights on reusable surgical textiles, pack room workflow optimization, and best practices for maintaining sterility and consistency. Dave Fox of Standard Textile spoke on the value of surgical pack rooms and reusable textiles for healthcare operations.
• Hospital Cooperative Laundry of Denver, ColoradominorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Hospital Cooperative Laundry of Denver, Colorado hosted the hands-on portion of HLAC's 2026 Annual Inspector Training, providing inspectors with real-world exposure to pack assembly processes, workflow design, and quality control measures in their surgical pack room facility.
• AORN (Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2014AORN awarded HLAC its Seal of Recognition in April 2014 (and again in 2015), confirming that HLAC's Accreditation Standards meet AORN's guidelines for perioperative standards and recommended practices. No other laundry facility quality approach has received this recognition from AORN, making it a landmark endorsement of HLAC's standards.
• Association for Linen Management (ALM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHLAC has established an educational partnership with ALM, participating in the ALM IMPACT conference where HLAC's President has presented on HLAC's mission and accreditation value. This partnership supports HLAC's goal of promoting standards and driving adoption of accreditation among healthcare laundry operators.
• IAHTM (International Association of Healthcare Textile Management)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHLAC maintains an educational partnership with IAHTM, collaborating to advance industry standards in healthcare laundry facilities. Board members from IAHTM provide leadership and industry expertise to HLAC's standards development and governance.
• APIC (Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHLAC maintains a partnership with APIC, having exhibited at the APIC 2023 conference and collaborated with local APIC chapters to promote industry standards. HLAC provides educational resources and presentations relevant to infection preventionists who oversee healthcare textile quality.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI): AAMI develops standards for medical devices and is referenced (ANSI/AAMI) in HLAC's Part III Surgical Pack Room section. AAMI is comparable as a healthcare standards body whose published standards HLAC incorporates by reference, making it an adjacent peer in the healthcare-textile standards ecosystem.
• Association for Linen Management (ALM): ALM is a textile management industry association that partners with HLAC and runs the IMPACT conference. While not a direct accreditation competitor, ALM is a peer in the healthcare laundry ecosystem, providing education, advocacy, and member services to the same operator base HLAC accredits.
• Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC): APIC is the leading professional association for infection preventionists and a core HLAC partner. While APIC does not accredit laundries, its members are the end-user decision-makers influencing whether healthcare facilities demand HLAC-accredited suppliers, making it an ecosystem peer shaping demand for HLAC's services.
• Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN): AORN awarded HLAC its Seal of Recognition in 2014 and 2015 — a unique endorsement no other laundry quality program has received. AORN is comparable as a healthcare-standards-issuing organization whose perioperative guidelines HLAC references in its own standards, making it a peer in the broader standards ecosystem.
• International Association for Healthcare Textile Management (IAHTM): IAHTM is an international association for healthcare textile management professionals that partners with HLAC and has board members serving on HLAC's governance. It is comparable as an industry body shaping standards and best practices for healthcare laundry, though focused on education rather than third-party inspection.

Broad incumbents

• DNV Healthcare: DNV Healthcare offers hospital accreditation services (NIAHO program) competing with The Joint Commission. Comparable to HLAC as an independent third-party accreditation body using on-site inspections, surveys, and standards-based evaluation to certify healthcare organizations.
• The Joint Commission: The Joint Commission is the dominant US healthcare accreditation body for hospitals and health systems. It is comparable to HLAC as a nonprofit standards-and-inspection organization that drives healthcare quality through third-party accreditation, though at vastly larger scale and broader scope.

Direct peers

• Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program (HFAP): HFAP (now part of Accreditation Commission for Health Care) accredits hospitals and healthcare facilities using CMS-deemed status survey methodology. It is comparable to HLAC as a healthcare-focused accreditation body that generates revenue through recurring inspection cycles and standards-based compliance evaluation.
• Textile Rental Services Association (TRSA): TRSA operates the Hygienically Clean Healthcare certification program for laundries processing healthcare textiles, making it the most direct competitor to HLAC's accreditation. Both target commercial, on-premise, and cooperative healthcare laundries with third-party validation programs, and compete for the same customer wallet share across North America.
• Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC): ACHC is an accreditation body offering healthcare facility and service-line accreditations (including pharmacy, hospice, and home health). While not laundry-specific, ACHC operates the same third-party accreditation model targeting healthcare providers, competing for mindshare and organizational resources on accreditation decisions.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/newshlac
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@hlacvideos/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/HLACNET
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/healthcare-laundry-accreditation-council
• Instagraminstagram.com/hlacnet

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Healthcare Laundry Accreditation Council