New Hampshire Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program

The New Hampshire Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (NHELAP) provides primary accreditation to environmental laboratories located in New Hampshire and out-of-state to ensure sufficiently accurate, precise and consistent results of tests, analyses and measurements. Secondary accreditation is granted to out-of-state environmental laboratories that have another National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program Accreditation Body as their primary accreditation body.

NHELAP is currently accrediting environmental laboratories according to the 2016 TNI Standards. In general, primary accreditation is based upon the results of the on-site assessment and the results of the laboratory's participation in proficiency test studies. Secondary accreditation (recognition) is based upon the accreditation granted by the primary accreditation body.

NHELAP offers accreditation for a variety of Potable Water (drinking water), Non-Potable Water, (wastewater and whole effluent toxicity testing), Non-Potable Water SW-846, Solid and Chemical Materials SW-846, Air and Tissue methods. View our current Fields of Accreditation (FOA) by selecting our Method Selection Form (MSF) links below.

• Drinking Water MSF
• Non-Potable Water MSF
• Non-Potable Water SW-846 Methods MSF
• Solid and Chemical Materials MSF
• Solid and Chemical Materials SW-846 Methods MSF
• Biological Tissue MSF
• Air and Emissions MSF

Search for an Accredited Laboratory
Search the NHELAP database for accredited laboratories and the specific testing capabilities they perform. This database displays the latest (live) information about laboratories currently accredited by NHELAP.

Private Well Drinking Water Testing Guidance and Fact Sheets for Homeowners
NHDES recommends that private well users and people buying a home with a private well test their well water for specific parameters. Homeowners may locate an accredited laboratory which performs all of the NHDES recommended test parameters for private wells within this guidance document. Additional information about private well water may be found in our drinking water fact sheets.

Accredited Laboratory Services for the NH Regulated Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Drinking Water
The New Hampshire Code of Administrative Rules Env-Dw 705.05 and Env-Dw 712.28 establish Minimum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) and Detection Limits (DLs) for Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), and Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). The environmental testing laboratory you select to perform the analysis of these analytes for regulatory purposes must be accredited by NH ELAP. This guidance document will help you obtain appropriate laboratory services.

Primary Laboratory Applications & Guidance
If you are a laboratory seeking to initially apply for primary accreditation through NHELAP or are seeking to renew your current primary accreditation with us, you will find the necessary Application form and Certificate of Compliance form in our NH Online Forms portal and instruction documents in our document library.

Secondary Laboratory Applications & Guidance
If you are a laboratory seeking to initially apply for secondary accreditation through NHELAP or are seeking to renew your current secondary accreditation with us, you will find the necessary Application form and Certificate of Compliance form in our NH Online Forms portal and instruction documents in our document library.

Third Party Assessor Organization (TPAO) Application & Guidance
If you are third party assessor seeking to initially apply for approval by NHELAP, you will find the necessary Application form in our NH Online Forms portal and an instruction document in our document library.