(1) The lab accreditation unit reviews and approves the laboratory's QA manual prior to the initial audit. The QA manual submitted concurrently with a department environmental laboratory accreditation application must be in detail and scope commensurate with the size and mission of the laboratory. Guidelines for contents of the QA manual are in the procedural manual.

(2) The QA manual must address QA and QC requirements of applicable regulatory programs. For drinking water laboratories, such requirements can be found in the drinking water certification manual and/or approved method.