Quality Assurance Audit for Forensic DNA and Convicted Offender DNA Databasing Laboratories (Forensic Science Communications, January 2001)
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January 2001 - Volume 3 - Number 1 |
Standards and Guidelines
Quality Assurance Audit for Forensic DNA and
Convicted Offender DNA Databasing Laboratories
In Accordance With the Quality Assurance Standards for Forensic DNA Testing Laboratories and Convicted Offender DNA Databasing Laboratories
Issued by The FBI Director
The FBI Laboratory has directed the recent development and issuance of an audit document designed for use by laboratories in assessing compliance with the national quality assurance standards. These standards were initially developed as recommended practices by the DNA Advisory Board (DAB) and ultimately issued by the Director of the FBI. This audit document addresses the national quality assurance standards related to both forensic DNA and convicted offender DNA testing laboratories.
Prior to development of this document, a standardized audit process did not exist within the forensic community for assessing compliance, creating the potential for inconsistency and possible misinterpretation of the standards. In an effort to address the questions and concerns of individual laboratories related to specific interpretative issues, the FBI Laboratory solicited input from the forensic community through a series of regional, national, and international presentations. Additionally, individuals from selected forensic laboratories were consulted regarding the design and content of the document. Finally, members from two prominent quality organizations, the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board (ASCLD/LAB) and the National Forensic Science Technology Center (NFSTC), collaborated with the FBI Laboratory to ensure that the final work product fully satisfies the interpretative views of both organizations.
The FBI Laboratory and ASCLD/LAB have formally agreed upon a joint use of the audit document. The audit document will be employed by ASCLD/LAB when conducting inspections of DNA laboratories, and the FBI Laboratory will recognize such an application as satisfying the external audit requirements for both forensic and convicted offender laboratories. The FBI Laboratory has scheduled in-service auditor training classes to commence in 2001; additionally, ASCLD/LAB and the FBI Laboratory have agreed to participate in a joint inspector/auditor training program, also anticipated for 2001.
This document is a Portable Document Format (PDF) file. If a word processing version of this document is required for auditing purposes, please send an e-mail request to labqau@fbi.gov and include your name, forensic laboratory affiliation, daytime telephone number, and mailing address.