National Reference System for the Clinical Laboratory (NRSCL)

Introduction

The NRSCL Council through the NCCLS consensus process, has established guidelines that describe the attributes of definitive methods, reference methods, & certified reference materials. The objective of the National Reference system is to provide the scientific basis for assuring interchangeability of clinical laboratory results within defined limits of accuracy & precision required to meet the standards of medical practice.

To implement the National Reference System, NCCLS & the NRSCL Council have also established a procedure to seek consensus on definitive methods, & reference materials for individual analytes. Under this consensus process, the Council reviews information on candidate methods & materials to determine whether it satisfies the requirements of the established guidelines. Materials & methods determined by the Council to be acceptable are considered to be 'credentialed' for acceptance into the National Reference System & are forwarded to the NCCLS Board of Directors to begin consensus review.

Upon approval by the Board, NCCLS makes available for member comment a proposed summary of the credentialed methods & materials, with references to information considered by the council. The NRSCL Council then reviews all the comments, makes any necessary changes, & resubmits the summaries for consideration at the approved level.