New facility to boost efforts by regional analytical lab in Kakkanad to secure NABL accreditation

The inauguration of microbiology food testing at the Regional Analytical Laboratory in Kakkanad by the Prime Minister on February 25 is expected to enhance efforts by the unit to gain accreditation from the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories. Though the lab in Kakkanad had NABL accreditation for chemical analysis, it lacked accreditation from the Central agency for microbiological analysis of samples. The new facility includes state-of-the-art equipment as per FSSAI norms for carrying out microbiological analysis of food samples. Though the new lab has become a reality, officials at the unit pointed out that it was a long road ahead before getting NABL accreditation as it involved a series of clearances and processes.