What Will Be the Impact of NABL's New Accreditation Certificate Numbering Format on Laboratories and Accreditation Compliance?
Understand what NABL’s new certificate numbering format means for your laboratory and how to stay compliant with updated accreditation practices.
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Introduction
In a move aimed at strengthening transparency and accreditation traceability, NABL has introduced a new certificate numbering format for accredited laboratories and conformity assessment bodies. The change replaces the earlier numbering system, and is expected to simplify certificate verification for regulators, businesses, auditors and other stakeholders.
What Is This Change?
If you've ever looked at a NABL accreditation certificate, you've probably noticed certificate numbers such as TC-XXXX, CC-XXXX, or MC-XXXX. While these numbers served as unique identifiers, they revealed very little about the accredited entity itself. To address this, NABL has introduced a new certificate numbering format that is more structured and easier to understand. Announced in June 2026, the change is designed to make accreditation details easier to identify, verify and track for laboratories, regulators, auditors, and clients alike.
The New Format: How It Works
Every new accreditation certificate number will now follow the structure:
NABL + [Field Code] + [Month & Year] + [State/UT Code or GL] + [Unique Serial Number]
Field Codes under the New System
| Code | Type of Laboratory |
| T | Testing Laboratory |
| C | Calibration Laboratory |
| M | Medical Laboratory |
| P | Proficiency Testing Provider |
| R | Reference Material Producer |
| B | Biobank |
For example:
- A Testing Laboratory in Delhi accredited in April 2026- NABLT0426DL20001.
- A Biobank in Maharashtra accredited in July 2026- NABLB0726MH10001.
- An internationally accredited CAB- suffix GL (Global) instead of a state code.
For laboratories assessed under NABL's Integrated Assessment framework, an additional identifier (I) is appended to the certificate number.
Why NABL Introduced This Change
The old certificate numbering system (TC-XXXX, CC-XXXX format) was purely sequential and carried no embedded information. Someone looking at a certificate number could not determine the type of laboratory, its location, when it was accredited, or what discipline it covered: without manually searching NABL's database. Several practical problems drove the decision:
- Rampant fake certificate fraud: With opaque numbers, forged NABL certificates were difficult to verify at a glance, the new format makes inconsistencies immediately apparent.
- Digital economy demands: India's growing push for digital verification of quality credentials in pharma, food, electronics, and healthcare required a machine-readable, self-explanatory format.
- Administrative tracking gaps: The old certificate numbers revealed very little about a laboratory. To identify details such as its location or accreditation category, regulators and other stakeholders often had to carry out additional checks.
- Alignment with international practices: Many accreditation bodies around the world already use numbering systems that provide more information and are easier to trace. The new format helps NABL move in the same direction and supports better recognition of Indian accreditation credentials.
- Growing number of accredited entities: NABL now accredits over 8,000 laboratories across India, the old sequential system made national-level database management increasingly inefficient.
Implementation Date and Transition Period
NABL officially announced the new format on 3rd June 2026, with formal implementation beginning under this date. However, recognizing the operational reality for accredited laboratories:
- Any accreditation certificate issued on or after 3 June 2026 will bear the new certificate number format.
- The change will not affect accredited CABs immediately. They may keep using their existing certificate numbers until NABL fully rolls out the new system and any remaining printed stationery has been used.
- The transition window is capped at a maximum of six months from the date of announcement meaning all labs must be operating under the new format by approximately December 2026.
Every newly issued certificate will also carry a reference to the older number (e.g., "In lieu of TC-XXX") to ensure no break in historical traceability.
Key Features of the New System
The revised numbering format introduces several enhancements designed to improve transparency, traceability, and accreditation record management.
- Cycle Numbers in Certificate Footers: Each renewal of accreditation will be reflected through a cycle number displayed in the footer, starting from the first issuance under the new format.
- Revision Tracking: Modifications to certificates will be tracked as Revision 1, Revision 2, Revision 3, and so on, allowing stakeholders to know if a certificate has been amended post-issuance.
- Complete Accreditation History: The full accreditation journey of a CAB will be maintained within certificates issued under the new format, visible to regulators, clients, and auditors.
- Global Entity Distinction: International CABs accredited by NABL receive the "GL" tag instead of a state code, keeping a consistent global structure while distinguishing foreign bodies.
Impact on Laboratories and Compliance
While the new numbering format does not change accreditation requirements, laboratories and conformity assessment bodies will need to update their records, documents and reporting systems to ensure consistency and compliance.
- Testing and Calibration Laboratories
As the largest group of NABL-accredited entities, testing and calibration laboratories will need to update accreditation references across reports, quotations, certificates, websites, and other customer-facing documents. Laboratories operating multiple locations or accreditation scopes may need additional coordination to ensure the new certificate number is reflected consistently across all systems.
- Medical Laboratories and Pathology Centres
Medical laboratories, diagnostic centres, and pathology labs will need to incorporate the new certificate number format into their test reports and accreditation-related documents. Since these reports are often used by hospitals, insurance providers and regulatory authorities, maintaining accurate accreditation details is essential to avoid confusion and ensure continued compliance.
- Proficiency Testing Providers and Reference Material Producers
Proficiency Testing Providers and Reference Material Producers will now have their own dedicated identifiers, making it easier to distinguish their certificates from those issued to testing and calibration laboratories.
- Biobanks
For the first time, biobanks an emerging category in India's life sciences ecosystem: receive a dedicated identifier (B code), signaling NABL's recognition of this sector's growth and the need for its standalone compliance tracking.
How Businesses Stay Compliant
The compliance pathway for any NABL-accredited entity involves these steps:
- Update NABL Portal Profile: Reflect the new certificate number in the online laboratory directory on nabl-india.org so clients and regulators can verify it.
- Revise Test/Calibration Reports: All reports issued after the transition must cite the new certificate number in the header/footer, as this is a mandatory part of accredited reports under ISO/IEC 17025 and ISO 15189.
- Update Agreements and Contracts: Contracts with clients, government agencies, and regulatory bodies that reference the old certificate number must be updated or amended.
- Revise Quality Management System Documents: The certificate number appears in the Quality Manual, Scope of Accreditation documents, and internal procedures: all need revision.
- Notify Key Stakeholders: Clients, regulators (like FSSAI, BIS, CDSCO, NABL-approved regulators), and partner institutions should be proactively informed of the change to avoid rejection of reports citing outdated numbers.
- Exhaust Old Stationery within 6 Months: Printed letterheads and report templates bearing old certificate numbers must be phased out.
Who Gets Maximum Benefit
The new certificate numbering format creates practical advantages for industries and regulators that regularly depend on NABL-accredited laboratories.
- Pharmaceutical and Biotech Industry
Drug manufacturers submitting lab data to regulators like CDSCO, WHO, and USFDA benefit enormously. The new format allows these regulators to instantly verify the type (Medical or Testing), state and vintage of the accrediting lab reducing document scrutiny delays.
- Food and Agri-Business Sector
FSSAI mandates NABL-accredited testing for food safety compliance. With the new format, food testing labs in Tier-2 cities and rural agrochemical hubs become instantly identifiable by geography making state-level regulatory tracking by FSSAI far more efficient.
- Export-Oriented Industries
Exporters in sectors such as textiles, chemicals, engineering goods, and electronics can benefit from a clearer and more transparent accreditation system. The structured certificate number makes NABL-accredited test reports easier for international buyers and overseas authorities to understand and verify.
- Healthcare and Insurance Sector
Hospitals, diagnostic centres and insurance providers can verify accredited laboratory reports more quickly. This helps improve trust in test results and reduces the risk of accepting reports from unauthorised or falsely represented laboratories.
- Government Procurement and Regulatory Agencies
For government departments and regulators, checking the accreditation status of a laboratory will become more straightforward. This can save time during approvals, inspections, and tender evaluations while making it harder to use outdated or misleading accreditation information.
- Startups in Deeptech and Diagnostics
Emerging diagnostic startups and environmental testing companies that are newly seeking NABL accreditation benefit from being issued structured, information-rich certificates from day one, enhancing their credibility with early-stage clients and investors.
Impact on Business Conditions, Transparency, and Product Quality
The new numbering format goes beyond accreditation management and brings practical benefits for businesses, regulators, and consumers.
1. Transparency
The new certificate number makes basic accreditation information easier to understand at a glance. Buyers, auditors, and regulators can quickly identify key details about a laboratory without spending time searching through multiple records.
2. Anti-Fraud Mechanism
Because the new format contains structured information, it becomes much harder to create fake or misleading NABL certificates. Any mismatch in the certificate details can be identified more easily during verification.
3. Product Quality Assurance
Easier verification of accreditation credentials encourages laboratories to maintain valid accreditation status. This helps improve confidence in testing and calibration results across industries such as manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and food processing.
4. Accreditation History Visibility
The new format makes it easier to see a laboratory's accreditation track record over the years. Clients can check how long the lab has remained accredited, whether there have been any certificate revisions, and how consistently it has maintained its accreditation status. This can be an important factor when choosing a testing or calibration partner.
Impact on the Indian Economy
The new numbering format may seem like a small administrative change, but its benefits can extend across trade, healthcare and India's growing digital economy.
- Export Competitiveness: Clearer and more credible accreditation details can help increase confidence in Indian test reports among international buyers and regulators.
- Reduction in Trade Rejections: Easier verification of laboratory credentials can reduce delays and disputes related to testing certificates during exports.
- Healthcare Cost Efficiency: Faster verification of medical laboratory accreditation can help insurers identify genuine reports more easily and reduce fraudulent claims.
- Digital Infrastructure Growth: The new format supports NABL's shift towards a more digital and streamlined accreditation ecosystem.
- Support for MSMEs and Small Laboratories: Smaller laboratories can showcase their accreditation credentials more clearly, helping them compete more effectively with larger players.
Is This a Right Decision or an Additional Burden?
While some laboratories will need to update their records and documents, the overall impact is largely positive.
Why It Is the Right Decision
The new numbering format does not introduce any additional accreditation fees, reassessments, or compliance requirements. Laboratories are simply required to adopt a clearer and more informative certificate format during the transition period. By making accreditation details easier to understand and verify, the change can improve transparency, reduce the risk of misuse and support NABL's move towards a more digitally connected accreditation system.
Potential Challenges
- Laboratories with large volumes of printed report templates and stationery face a one-time reprinting cost.
- Multi-site laboratories accredited across states need to carefully manage the update across all locations simultaneously.
- Clients, regulators, and procurement teams accustomed to the old format may initially reject reports with the new number out of unfamiliarity, requiring labs to proactively communicate the transition.
- Small labs in Tier-3 cities with limited administrative capacity may struggle to complete documentation updates within six months.
Overall, these challenges are transitional as well as manageable. The long-term systemic benefits of traceability, transparency and anti-fraud protection far outweigh the one-time administrative adjustment costs.
Business Opportunities Created by This Change
- Quality Management Consultants: Firms helping laboratories update QMS documents, ISO 17025 procedures, and report templates for the new numbering format will see a surge in demand
- LIMS (Laboratory Information Management System) Providers: Software platforms used by labs must update certificate number fields; vendors offering NABL-aligned LIMS updates have a clear commercial opportunity.
- NABL Accreditation Consultants: New laboratories seeking fresh accreditation will now receive better-structured certificates, making NABL certification more attractive, expanding the consulting market.
- Digital Verification Platform Startups: Companies building API-based verification tools that let manufacturers, regulators, and buyers instantly validate NABL certificate numbers can build valuable compliance-tech services.
- Training and Awareness Services: Corporate trainers, online course providers, and industry associations offering workshops on the new format and its compliance implications will find receptive audiences across the pharmaceutical, food and engineering sectors.
- Printing and Stationery Suppliers: The mandatory transition away from old stationery within six months creates a short-term but significant demand for updated printed materials across thousands of accredited laboratories across India.
About the Author
Parul Bohral
Legal Content WriterParul Bohral, a BALLB graduate and experienced legal researcher and content writer with expertise in various legal areas, including corporate law and intellectual property. I have gained valuable experience in esteemed legal environments, where I have strengthened my research skills, allowing me to approach legal writing with precision and depth.
As a legal content writer, I am committed to delivering work that not only informs but also engages readers. By staying informed about the latest trends in content marketing and regulatory developments, I ensure that my writing remains sophisticated and meets industry standards. My dedication to thorough research enables me to craft content that is both insightful and impactful.