The Environmental Laboratory Approval Program (ELAP) within the Wadsworth Center provides regulatory oversight of laboratories that test environmental samples collected in New York State. These laboratories monitor for toxins, harmful microorganisms, carcinogens, and other hazardous substances.
ELAP is certified as an accreditation body for The NELAC Institute (TNI), a national organization that develops rigorous, uniform standards for environmental laboratory accreditation. Fourteen states, including New York, currently use TNI standards to regulate environmental testing.
A central role of TNI is to convene subject matter experts to update standards and address emerging challenges in environmental testing. Elizabeth Lesold and Joann Slavin represented New York State at the TNI 2025 Environmental Measurement Symposium in St. Louis, Missouri (August 4–7, 2025). This symposium is the nation’s leading forum for policy and technical issues in environmental laboratory accreditation and provides a venue for TNI committees to meet with stakeholders and finalize new standards.
Participation of ELAP staff in TNI committees reflects national recognition of their expertise and ensures that New York’s priorities are represented in the development of national standards. This involvement directly shapes environmental testing policy and helps ensure that laboratories in New York State continue to meet the highest standards of quality, accuracy, and reliability.