PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	CONTACT: Lee Benson Laboratory Director 330-270-2841 ext. 351 lbenson@mahoning-health.org
	DATE: February 9, 2005

LAB WINS NATIONAL ACCREDITATION

Austintown, OH, February 3, 2005 – The District Board of Health has received accreditation from the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation for meeting International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 17025-1999 standards, requirements and guidelines for competence in testing for calibration laboratories.

ISO/IEC 17025 is an internationally recognized standard that covers laboratory management, calibration procedures, testing proficiency, report generation, and record keeping. It also sets requirements for continuous quality improvement and requires documentation of all laboratory procedures, on-site assessment of these procedures by American Association for Laboratory Accreditation personnel, and successful participation in a Proficiency Analytical Testing Program.

The District Board of Health offers environmental and microbiological testing of water, wastewater, and lead to hundreds of clients in the Mahoning Valley and throughout the State of Ohio.

For more information, visit us at http://www.mahoning-health.org