Lab Certification Program
Skip to Main Content
Go to TN.gov
Go to TN.gov
Section
Go to Environment & Conservation (TDEC)
Program Areas
Recycling Markets
Air
Archaeology
Bureau of Conservation
Energy
Environmental Stewardship
Tennessee Geological Survey
Mineral & Geologic Resources
Natural Areas
Outdoor Recreation
Policy & Planning
Radiological Health
Remediation Branch
Small Business Environmental Assistance
Waste Management Branch
Underground Storage Tanks
Water
Permitting
Air Permits
Archaeology Permit
Mineral & Geologic Resources Permits
Natural Areas License and Permits
Radiological Health Licenses and Registrations
Waste Permits
Water Permits
Other Permits
Efficiency Reports
Public Participation
Air Notices & Hearings
Energy Notices & Hearings
Mineral & Geologic Notices & Hearings
Natural Areas Notices & Hearings
Radiation Notices & Hearings
Remediation Notices & Hearings
TN State Parks Notices & Hearings
UST Notices & Hearings
Waste Notices & Hearings
Water Notices & Hearings
TDEC General Notices
About
Communications
Leadership
Stakeholder Engagement
External Affairs
Boards & Commissions
Financial Assurance
Grants
Department Policies
Vendor Opportunities
Employment & Internships
TDEC Annual Reports
Contact
Field Offices
Ask TDEC Questions
Public Records Request
Customer Service Survey
Language Assistance
Calendar of Events
American Rescue Plan (ARP)
Success Stories
TDEC Newsroom
Print This Page
Print This Page
Go to Search
We are reorganizing pages for a better experience. We appreciate your patience!
Drinking Water
Drinking Water Emergency Planning
Drinking Water Security
Drinking Water Security Resources
Protecting a Drinking Water System
Revised Total Coliform Rule
Lead and Copper Rule
Laboratory Certification Program
Compliance Monitoring Data Portal
Lead Testing in Schools and Child Care Centers
TN Area Wide Optimization Program (AWOP)
Back to Water Quality
Laboratory Certification Program
Purpose of the Program
The Division of Water Resources' (DWR) laboratory certification program (LCP) evaluates and certifies laboratories for chemistry, microbiology and radiochemistry parameters and Cryptosporidium.
The program ensures that all laboratories that submit monitoring data for public water systems in the state of Tennessee meet the criteria established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in
The Manual for the Certification of Laboratories Analyzing Drinking Water
(
EPA 815-B-97-001
), 5th edition, January 2005.
Certification Procedure
A request for certification of a laboratory must be submitted to the Division of Water Resources Laboratory Certification Program:
Written Requests:
Division of Water Resources
Lab Certification Program
Attn: Prasad Subbanna
Davy Crockett Tower-9th Floor
500 James Robertson Parkway
Nashville, TN 37243
Or by e-mail to
Prasad.Subbanna@tn.gov
Application for Microbiological Laboratory Certification
Microbiological Lab Certification Requirements
Microbiological Lab Certification Checklist
Please include the groups of contaminates for which certification is desired:
Chemistry
Microbiology
Radiochemistry
General or Wet
Coliforms by Enzyme Substrate or Membrane Filter
Gross Alpha or Beta
Inorganic
Heterotrophic Plate Count
Radium 226
Organic
Enterococci
Radium 228
PCBs
Cryptosporidium
Gamma Emitters
TTHMs
Cesium
HAA5s
Strontium
Uranium
Tritium
The LCP manager will evaluate the application and may request information such as:
Documentation that an audit has been done by the applicant lab’s home (or parent) state or by the National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation (NELAC) program that their state has a contract with
Lab’s scope or list of requested Certified Parameters (CPs).
Proof that the laboratory successfully completed Proficiency Testing (PT) or Performance Evaluation (PE) of samples through an approved provider
Quality Assurance Plan (QAP) or QA Manual (QAM)
The LCP Manager will review all the submitted information and determine the lab’s certification rating. Approved labs will receive an e-mail notification about approval and then will receive a certification letter along with a certificate and approved CP list (scope) upon receipt of payment of the relevant certification fees. (listed below)
Labs certified in the state of Tennessee will need to be audited on-site every three years by qualified LCP certification officers.
Labs outside of Tennessee may be certified by reciprocity with qualified LCP certification officers in their respective state.
Lab Certification Ratings:
Certified
Lab meets all criteria, successfully completed PT analysis & has paid annual certification fees
Interim Certified
Lab is newly certified (as above) and is awaiting audit for additional parameters
Provisionally Certified
Lab is certified, but may have failed a PT analysis, failed to report compliance data in a timely manner, or is not maintaining the required standard of quality
Lab must apply for upgrade to regain certification when able to correct deficiencies to the satisfaction of the LCP Manager
Not Certified
Lab does not meet certification requirements
Lab must apply for upgrade to regain certification when able to correct deficiencies to the satisfaction of the LCP Manager
Certification Fees:
Administration Fee
In State
$1000
Administration Fee
Out of State
$750
General Chemistry
$500
Inorganics
Including Metals
$500
Organics
$500
Disinfection Byproducts
TTHMs & HAA5s
$500
Polychlorinated Biphenyls
PCBs
$500
Radiochemistry
Radionuclides
$500
Enzyme Substrate
Total coliform & E. coli
$500
Membrane Filter
Total coliform & E. coli
$500
Heterotrophic Plate Count
HPC
$500
Enterococci
$500
Certified Commercial Laboratories
Certified Microbiological Laboratories
(Laboratories certified for drinking water analysis)
Analyte Groups
(Chemical contaminants in each analyte group listed on the MyTDEC Forms Template form.)
Social Media
facebook
youtube
linkedin
Programs
Air
Environmental Stewardship
Solid Waste
Underground Storage Tanks
Water
Resources
Accessibility
Dataviewers
Employment and Internships
Enforcement Orders
Grants
Non-Discrimination
Featured Links
TDEC Annual Reports
Field Offices
Natural Areas
State Parks
The Tennessee Conservationist
Partner Links
TN Historical Commission
Sustainable Tourism
TN Promise
U.S. EPA
Department of Environment & Conservation
David W. Salyers, P.E., P.G.
Davy Crockett Tower
500 James Robertson Parkway
Nashville, TN 37243
(888) 891-TDEC (8332)
Email Questions to TDEC
Flag Status
Chat
Help
Translate
Font Size
a-
Normal
A+
TN.gov Services
TN.gov Directory
Transparent TN
Web Policies
Mobile App
About Tennessee
Title VI
Accessibility
Help & Contact
Survey
Close