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INDUSTRY ALERT – Reporting of Volume Measurement of sampled air and reporting raw counts 

National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) has updated its Specific Accreditation Criteria, effective May 2026 (see https://nata.com.au/files/2026/02/ISOIEC-17025-Application-Document-Effective-May26.pdf). This is a document is in addition to ISO 17025 and provides interpretative criteria and recommendations for Australian Environmental Laboratories. Amongst other changes the main update affecting clients of Environmental Testing Laboratories will be the way air concentration results will be displayed on a NATA accredited report. 

What will be Changing? 

From May onwards NATA accredited laboratories can only include calculated concentrations (e.g. mg/m³, fibres/mL, µg/m³, g/m²/month) on a NATA endorsed Certificate of Analysis (CoA) if the sampling was performed by a NATA accredited facility. 

If sampling parameters (such as volume, time, or area sampled) are provided by a non-accredited facility, only raw counts can be reported on a NATA endorsed CoA. In these cases, only the accredited measurand (e.g. analyte mass, dust mass, asbestos fibre count, Mould count) can appear on the NATA endorsed CoA. 

When Can Concentrations Be Reported? 

Concentrations can be included on a NATA endorsed report when: 

  • The sampling was conducted by a NATA accredited facility for sampling. 
  • The sampling facility’s accreditation number is provided. 
  • The name(s) of the sampler(s) are supplied for traceability. 

This requirement applies to all NATA accredited laboratories. 

What This Means for You? 

If you require calculated concentration results on a NATA endorsed report, please ensure your sampling provider is NATA accredited for sampling and that sampler details are supplied on the Chain of Custody (COC) together with the samples. 

Examples of results that will be excluded (where sampling is not NATA accredited) include: 

Test Previously Reported From May 2026 reported 
Asbestos fibres fibres/mL fibres 
Quartz/Cristobalite µg/m³ or mg/m3 µg or mg 
Respirable/Inhalable dust mg/m³ mg 
Air toxics – Thermal Desorption Tubes (active sampling) µg/m³ or mg/m3 µg or mg 
Metals/Inorganics in air mg/m³ mg 
Ambient air dust gauges g/m²/month g 
Organic analytes in air µg/m³ or mg/m3 µg or mg 
Mould in air fs/m3 fs 
Microbiology in air CFU/m3 CFU 

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Disclaimer

The views and information in this publication are those of the author and not the Australasian Land & Groundwater Association Ltd (ALGA), which acts solely as publisher. This publication does not constitute legal advice, and no warranty is given as to its accuracy or completeness. To the extent permitted by law, ALGA and the author accept no liability. Readers should seek independent professional advice if required.