Navy Environmental and Preventive Medicine Unit TWO (NEPMU-2) announced, Oct. 22, that its Comprehensive Industrial Hygiene Laboratory (CIHL) passed their biennial Commission on Office Laboratory (COLA) inspection with zero deficiencies.

The CIHL monitors Navy personnel exposure to chemicals through air, bulk and swipe sampling. The results generated by the CIHL are provided to industrial hygienists and health care professionals, who then make assessments regarding workplace controls, such as personal protective equipment, or whether a worker should be enrolled in medical surveillance programs.

"The nationally recognized COLA certificate translates into mission readiness and provides customers with high-quality and reliable test results through analytical process improvement," said Helen Penn, NEPMU-2 CIHL director.

Capt. Lori Krevetski, NEPMU-2 laboratory medical director, praised the staff for their dedication to quality testing.

"A flawless performance in a laboratory accreditation inspection such as this is a direct reflection on the dedication and professionalism of our staff, and I extend my sincere appreciation and a hearty congratulations on a job well done," the captain said.

COLA has become the nation's largest private accrediting organization of clinical laboratories. It serves nearly 8,000 labs across the country through a program of voluntary education, consultation and accreditation.

In 1988, Congress passed the Clinical Laboratory Improvements Amendments (CLIA) establishing quality standards for all laboratory testing, thus ensuring the accuracy, reliability and timeliness of results. Completing COLA's accreditation program requirements ensures the laboratory is in compliance with CLIA and the DoD Clinical Laboratory Improvement Program (CLIP).

NEPMU-2's CIHL is staffed with chemists and technicians who have diverse analytical expertise and many years of experience serving in the government, private industry and academia. The laboratory manages the Navy's industrial hygiene samples as well as offering pediatric and occupational blood lead testing.

In 2015, CIHL Norfolk processed 7,000 blood samples, with the volume of samples varying from month to month. The criteria for passing the COLA accreditation process have become increasingly more difficult as quality control requirements become more stringent.

"We're proud of our CIHL colleagues and all they've accomplished," said Cmdr. Jennifer Espiritu, NEPMU-2 officer in charge. "The results of this survey are a testament to their dedication, hard work and professionalism."

For further information on the sampling guide and services the CIHL offers, visit http://www.med.navy.mil/sites/nmcphc/comprehensive-industrial-hygiene-labs/Pages/default.aspx or call 757-953-6562.

For more news from Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center, visit http://www.navy.mil/.