Virginia Law

A. DCLS shall decertify an environmental laboratory in total if the laboratory is found to be falsifying any data or providing false information to support certification.

B. DCLS may decertify an environmental laboratory in part or in total when the laboratory has failed to do any of the following:

1. Participate in the proficiency testing program as required by Article 3 (1VAC30-45-500 et seq.) of Part II of this chapter.

2. Satisfactorily complete proficiency testing studies as required by Article 3 (1VAC30-45-500 et seq.) of Part II of this chapter.

3. Maintain a quality system as defined in Article 4 (1VAC30-45-600 et seq.) of Part II of this chapter.

4. Employ staff that meets the personnel qualifications in Article 1 (1VAC30-45-200 et seq.) of Part II of this chapter.

5. Submit an acceptable corrective action plan after two opportunities as specified in 1VAC30-45-390.

6. Implement corrective action specified in the laboratory's corrective action plan as set out under 1VAC30-45-390.

7. Correct the causes of suspension within the term of suspension.

8. Notify DCLS of any changes in key certification criteria as set forth in 1VAC30-45-90.

9. Use accurate references to the laboratory's certification status in the laboratory's documentation.

10. Allow a DCLS assessment team entry during normal business hours to conduct an on-site assessment required by Article 2 (1VAC30-45-300 et seq.) of Part II of this chapter.

11. Pay the required fees specified in 1VAC30-45-130.

12. Meet the provisions regarding communication with others in 1VAC30-45-510 C.

C. DCLS may decertify an environmental laboratory in part or in total when the laboratory has failed three consecutive proficiency testing studies for the same field of certification either by failure to participate in the proficiency testing study or by failure to obtain acceptable results.

D. DCLS shall follow the process specified in 1VAC30-45-110 when decertifying an environmental laboratory.

E. Responsibilities of the environmental laboratory and DCLS when certification has been withdrawn.

1. Laboratories that lose their certification in full shall return their certificate to DCLS.

2. If a laboratory loses certification in part, DCLS shall issue a revised certificate to the laboratory.

3. When the environmental laboratory has lost certification in full or in part, the laboratory shall not continue to analyze samples or report analyses for the fields of certification that DCLS has decertified.

F. After correcting the reason or cause for decertification under subsection A or B of this section, the laboratory owner may reapply for certification under 1VAC30-45-70.