Designation:E1580–93(Reapproved2002)AnAmericanNationalStandardStandardGuideforSurveillanceofAccreditedLaboratories1ThisstandardisissuedunderthefixeddesignationE1580;thenumberimmediatelyfollowingthedesignationindicatestheyearoforiginaladoptionor,inthecaseofrevision,theyearoflastrevision.Anumberinparenthesesindicatestheyearoflastreapproval.Asuperscriptepsilon(e)indicatesaneditorialchangesincethelastrevisionorreapproval.1.Scope1.1Thisguidecoversanumberofproceduresthatmaybeusedbyalaboratoryaccreditingbody,eithersinglyorascomplementaryactivities,toprovideensurancethataccreditedlaboratoriescontinuetosatisfycriteriaandconditionsforaccreditationrequiredbytheaccreditingbody.1.2Thisstandarddoesnotpurporttoaddressallofthesafetyproblems,ifany,associatedwithitsuse.Itistheresponsibilityoftheuserofthisstandardtoestablishappro-priatesafetyandhealthpracticesanddeterminetheapplica-bilityofregulatorylimitationspriortouse.2.ReferencedDocuments2.1ASTMStandards:E548GuideforGeneralCriteriaUsedforEvaluatingLaboratoryCompetence2E994GuideforCalibrationandTestingLaboratoryAc-creditationSystemsGeneralRequirementsforOperationandRecognition2E1187TerminologyRelatingtoConformityAssessment2E1224GuideforCategorizingFieldsofCapabilityforLaboratoryAccreditationPurposes2E1301GuidefortheProficiencyTestingbyInterlaboratoryComparisons2E1323GuideforEvaluatingLaboratoryMeasurementPracticesandtheStatisticalAnalysisoftheResultingData23.Terminology3.1Definitions—ThetermsanddefinitionsusedinthisguidearebasedonthoseinTerminologyE1187.3.2DefinitionsofTermsSpecifictoThisStandard:3.2.1assessment,n—ofalaboratory,theactivityofevalu-atingalaboratory’scompliancewithaccreditationcriteria.3.2.2surveillance,n—ofalaboratory,asetofactivities(forexample,on-siteassessment,proficiencytesting,question-naire,qualityaudit)performedorreviewedbyanaccreditingbodytoensurethataccreditedlaboratoriesdemonstrateongo-ingcompliancewithaccreditationrequirements.4.SignificanceandUse4.1Thisguideisintendedtobeusedbylaboratoryaccred-iti...
