NATA accreditation means a laboratory has been assessed by NATA, the National Association of Testing Authorities, Australia, against ISO/IEC 17025 as competent to carry out the specific tests on its scope. It belongs to a laboratory, for particular tests. Test Australia is not NATA-accredited. The laboratories that analyse our samples are.
NATA-accredited laboratory analysis
NATA (the National Association of Testing Authorities, Australia) is Australia’s national accreditation body for laboratories, inspection bodies and calibration services. It was established in 1947.
A laboratory accredited by NATA has been assessed against ISO/IEC 17025:2017 as competent to carry out the specific tests on its scope of accreditation. The assessment covers the laboratory’s methods, equipment, quality control and staff, and is repeated on a regular cycle.
Accreditation belongs to a laboratory, for particular tests. It is not a general badge for a company, and it does not cover how samples were collected in the field or how results were interpreted. That is why we name the laboratory for each test and explain what its accreditation covers.
Test Australia itself is not NATA-accredited. The laboratories below are, for the tests on their scope. The laboratory for each test is named in your report.
NATA accreditation 1261
NATA accreditation 2901
NATA accreditation 2431
Field sampling and laboratory analysis are done by separate organisations.
Test Australia's suitably qualified occupational hygienists collect the samples on site and record the chain of custody. Every report is signed. For methamphetamine, surface wipes follow NIOSH Method 9111, which specifies the wipe technique, the template area and blank and quality-control samples.
Samples are sent to the laboratory for that test. Test Australia does not own or operate a laboratory and has no financial interest in any laboratory.
The report attaches the laboratory certificates and sets out the method, chain of custody, results, uncertainty and limitations so that any party can test them.
When your doctor orders a blood test, they collect the sample and send it to an independent pathology laboratory. Test Australia works the same way: we collect the samples and interpret the results, and an independent laboratory does the analysis.
WA Health recommends that the company testing a property is different from the company remediating it.
Test Australia tests and gives a signed opinion. We do not clean, remediate, manage claims, or receive income from cleaning, remediation or referral arrangements.
The evidence is the same whoever engages us — owner, buyer, tenant, landlord, insurer, loss adjuster or remediator.
No. Test Australia is not NATA-accredited and does not operate a laboratory. Test Australia's suitably qualified occupational hygienists collect the samples and write the report. The samples are analysed by independent laboratories, and each laboratory certificate in our report names the laboratory and any accreditation that applies.
We use three independent laboratories, each NATA-accredited for the tests on its scope. They are listed with their accreditation numbers under Laboratories we use on this page. Methamphetamine is analysed by LC-MS/MS following NIOSH Method 9111. For other tests, the report names the laboratory and states any accreditation that applies. Test Australia itself is not NATA-accredited.
NATA (the National Association of Testing Authorities, Australia) is the national accreditation body for laboratories. A laboratory accredited by NATA has been assessed against ISO/IEC 17025 as competent to carry out the specific tests listed on its scope of accreditation.
No. Accreditation applies to the tests on the laboratory’s scope. It belongs to a laboratory, for particular tests, and does not cover how samples were collected in the field. When you check a laboratory on nata.com.au, look for the specific test, not just the laboratory name.
Accreditation tells you about the laboratory’s competence for a test. It does not cover how the samples were collected or interpreted. Our reports set out the method, chain of custody, results, uncertainty and limitations so that any party can test them. Whether a court, tribunal or insurer relies on a report is a decision for them.
ISO 9001 certification covers a quality management system. NATA accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025 assesses a laboratory’s technical competence for specific tests, including its methods, equipment, quality control and staff. The assessment is repeated on a regular cycle. Accreditation belongs to a laboratory, for particular tests. It is not a general badge for a company.
The National Association of Testing Authorities, Australia. It is Australia's national accreditation body for laboratories, inspection bodies and calibration services, and it was established in 1947. NATA accredits laboratories against ISO/IEC 17025 for specific tests, and an accredited laboratory's details and scope can be checked on the NATA website, nata.com.au.
Mould samples are analysed by a NATA-accredited laboratory, and the laboratory is named in your report. Accreditation belongs to the laboratory, for the tests on its scope. It does not cover field sampling, and Test Australia itself is not NATA-accredited. If accreditation matters to another party, check that laboratory's scope on nata.com.au.
More about our mould inspection service.
No. Accreditation belongs to a laboratory, for the tests on its scope. It does not cover how samples were collected in the field or how results were interpreted. That is why a report should name the sampling method, record the chain of custody and attach the laboratory certificate, so each step can be checked separately.
NATA accreditation applies to the laboratory that performs the analysis, not to a field sampler or testing company. "Samples analysed by a NATA-accredited laboratory" is the accurate description when a company sends its samples to an accredited laboratory. Test Australia's suitably qualified occupational hygienists collect the samples and write the report, but Test Australia is not NATA-accredited.
Request a fee proposal for an assessment, or ask about a report you already have. Office hours are Mon–Fri 9am–5pm Adelaide time.