ASCLD/LABASCLD/LAB

Standards and Accreditation:Standards and Accreditation:Trace Evidence DisciplineTrace Evidence Discipline

John K. NeunerJohn K. NeunerProgram Manager, ASCLD/LAB-Program Manager, ASCLD/LAB-InternationalInternational

Trace Evidence SymposiumTrace Evidence SymposiumAugust 2007August 2007Clearwater Beach, FloridaClearwater Beach, Florida

Important NoteImportant Note

Information provided in this Information provided in this presentation was current as of presentation was current as of July 5, 2007July 5, 2007

Any significant changes since that Any significant changes since that date will be highlighted during the date will be highlighted during the presentationpresentation

History of ASCLD/LAB History of ASCLD/LAB AccreditationAccreditation

ASCLD/LAB began accrediting crime ASCLD/LAB began accrediting crime laboratories in 1982laboratories in 1982

Accreditation to international Accreditation to international standards (ISO/IEC 17025) became standards (ISO/IEC 17025) became available through ASCLD/LAB in 2004available through ASCLD/LAB in 2004

Accreditation in the Trace Evidence Accreditation in the Trace Evidence discipline available from the beginning discipline available from the beginning in both programsin both programs

History of ASCLD/LAB History of ASCLD/LAB AccreditationAccreditation

325 crime laboratories currently 325 crime laboratories currently accredited by ASCLD/LAB (as of July 5, accredited by ASCLD/LAB (as of July 5, 2007)2007)

Includes 173 state laboratories, 100 Includes 173 state laboratories, 100 local agency laboratories, 22 federal local agency laboratories, 22 federal laboratories, 10 laboratories outside laboratories, 10 laboratories outside the US and 20 private laboratoriesthe US and 20 private laboratories

36 of the 325 crime laboratories are 36 of the 325 crime laboratories are accredited under the ASCLD/LAB-accredited under the ASCLD/LAB-InternationalInternational Program Program

Trace Evidence Trace Evidence AccreditationAccreditation

289

36

166

13

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

Legacy Program International Program

All laboratories

Accreditation includesTrace Evidence

Trace Evidence Trace Evidence AccreditationAccreditation

325

181

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

All laboratories Accreditation includesTrace Evidence

ASCLD/LAB AccreditedLaboratories

Over the last ten years (1997 – Over the last ten years (1997 – 2007)2007)

Includes both ASCLD/LAB LegacyIncludes both ASCLD/LAB Legacyand ASCLD/LAB-and ASCLD/LAB-International International accredited laboratoriesaccredited laboratories

Labs Accredited in one or more area of the Trace Evidence discipline

86 93 102 110 115129

144 150163

175 181

0

50

100

150

200

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Over the last ten years (1997 – Over the last ten years (1997 – 2007)2007)

86 laboratories accredited in Trace Evidence by 199786 laboratories accredited in Trace Evidence by 1997

New accreditations since 1997in one or more area of the Trace Evidence discipline

79 8

5

14 15

6

11

5

2

0

5

10

15

20

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Breakdown of 166 Legacy Breakdown of 166 Legacy accredited laboratoriesaccredited laboratories

Full Trace Evidence accreditation – 123 laboratoriesFull Trace Evidence accreditation – 123 laboratories““Full” means working in 3 or more subdisciplinesFull” means working in 3 or more subdisciplines

Limited Trace Evidence services – 7 laboratoriesLimited Trace Evidence services – 7 laboratories““Limited” means working in 2 subdisciplinesLimited” means working in 2 subdisciplines

Hair only – 4 laboratoriesHair only – 4 laboratoriesGSR only – 6 laboratoriesGSR only – 6 laboratoriesFire Debris only – 17 laboratoriesFire Debris only – 17 laboratoriesPhysical & elemental analysis only – 1 laboratoryPhysical & elemental analysis only – 1 laboratoryImpression Evidence only – 1 laboratoryImpression Evidence only – 1 laboratoryPDMS lubricant identification only – 1 laboratoryPDMS lubricant identification only – 1 laboratoryTrace service currently suspended/droppedTrace service currently suspended/dropped** – 6 – 6 laboratorieslaboratories

* Usually due to loss of qualified personnel (retirement, transfer, etc.)* Usually due to loss of qualified personnel (retirement, transfer, etc.)

Breakdown of 13Breakdown of 13ASCLD/LAB-ASCLD/LAB-International International accredited laboratoriesaccredited laboratories

No designation of “full” accreditation in the Trace No designation of “full” accreditation in the Trace Evidence discipline in the ISO-based programEvidence discipline in the ISO-based program

Each laboratory receives a detailed “Each laboratory receives a detailed “scope of scope of accreditationaccreditation” document which specifies all ” document which specifies all ““categories of testingcategories of testing” in which accreditation has ” in which accreditation has been grantedbeen granted

ASCLD/LAB is further evaluating how to best ASCLD/LAB is further evaluating how to best identify categories of testing in the ASCLD/LAB-identify categories of testing in the ASCLD/LAB-International International program – current practices will program – current practices will likely changelikely change

ASCLD/LAB-ASCLD/LAB-InternationalInternationalTrace Evidence “areas” accredited to Trace Evidence “areas” accredited to datedate

Impression Evidence – 7 laboratories Impression Evidence – 7 laboratories accreditedaccredited

Paint – 7Paint – 7 Fibers and Textiles – 6Fibers and Textiles – 6 Fire Debris – 6Fire Debris – 6 Hair (microscopic examinations) – 6Hair (microscopic examinations) – 6 Physical comparisons – 6Physical comparisons – 6 Analysis of unknowns – 4Analysis of unknowns – 4 Screening (Primary examinations) – 4Screening (Primary examinations) – 4 Glass – 3Glass – 3

ASCLD/LAB-ASCLD/LAB-International :International : continued continued

Trace Evidence “areas” accredited to Trace Evidence “areas” accredited to datedate

Explosives – 2Explosives – 2 Headlamp Examination – 2Headlamp Examination – 2 Dye packs – 1Dye packs – 1 GSR – 1GSR – 1 Polymers – 1Polymers – 1 Serial number restoration – 1Serial number restoration – 1 Speedometer slaps – 1Speedometer slaps – 1

Note – Breaking down to this level raises “sub-Note – Breaking down to this level raises “sub-discipline” proficiency testing questionsdiscipline” proficiency testing questions

New ASCLD/LAB “sub-discipline” New ASCLD/LAB “sub-discipline” proficiency testing requirementproficiency testing requirement

New requirement approved for the ASCLD/LAB New requirement approved for the ASCLD/LAB Legacy program:Legacy program:

Each Examiner must be proficiency Each Examiner must be proficiency tested at least once, during each tested at least once, during each five-year accreditation cycle, in each five-year accreditation cycle, in each subdiscipline in which the examiner subdiscipline in which the examiner performs casework examinations and performs casework examinations and issues reports.issues reports.

New ASCLD/LAB “sub-discipline” New ASCLD/LAB “sub-discipline” proficiency testing requirementproficiency testing requirement

The full application of the new The full application of the new proficiency testing requirement has proficiency testing requirement has not yet been decided for the not yet been decided for the ASCLD/LAB-ASCLD/LAB-International International programprogram

ASCLD/LAB will first need to clarify ASCLD/LAB will first need to clarify ((for the ASCLD/LAB-for the ASCLD/LAB-InternationalInternational programprogram) the difference between ) the difference between “sub-discipline” and “category of “sub-discipline” and “category of testing”testing”

Movement to international Movement to international standardsstandards

ISO standards of accreditation are ISO standards of accreditation are now being embraced by the US now being embraced by the US crime laboratory communitycrime laboratory community

The master requirements document The master requirements document is ISO/IEC 17025:2005 is ISO/IEC 17025:2005 ““General General requirements for the competence requirements for the competence of testing and calibration of testing and calibration laboratories”laboratories”

International accreditation International accreditation standardsstandards

ISO/IEC 17025:2005 is copyrighted ISO/IEC 17025:2005 is copyrighted by ISO and must be acquired from by ISO and must be acquired from an authorized distributoran authorized distributor

American National Standards American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is an authorized Institute (ANSI) is an authorized distributor distributor www.ansi.orgwww.ansi.org (there are (there are others)others)

International accreditation International accreditation standardsstandards

ISO/IEC 17025:2005 is amplified by the ISO/IEC 17025:2005 is amplified by the ASCLD/LAB-ASCLD/LAB-InternationalInternational Supplemental Supplemental Requirements documentRequirements document

The “Supplemental Requirements” The “Supplemental Requirements” document is copyrighted by document is copyrighted by ASCLD/LAB and is available free to any ASCLD/LAB and is available free to any laboratory interested in preparing for laboratory interested in preparing for ASCLD/LAB-ASCLD/LAB-International International accreditationaccreditation

Movement to international Movement to international standardsstandards

The ASCLD/LAB-The ASCLD/LAB-InternationalInternational program was implemented in early program was implemented in early 20042004

36 laboratories currently accredited36 laboratories currently accredited 24 other laboratories in varying 24 other laboratories in varying

stages of the processstages of the process Total of 60 laboratories currently Total of 60 laboratories currently

engaged in the new programengaged in the new program

International accreditation International accreditation standardsstandards

International standards address all International standards address all elements in the Legacy elements in the Legacy accreditation programaccreditation program

International standards introduce a International standards introduce a number of new elementsnumber of new elements

International accreditation International accreditation standards standards New elements New elements introducedintroduced

Document controlDocument control Service to the customerService to the customer Preventive actionsPreventive actions Estimation of uncertainty of Estimation of uncertainty of

measurementmeasurement Traceability (new to some Traceability (new to some

disciplines)disciplines) Reporting requirements Reporting requirements

International accreditation International accreditation standardsstandards

International accreditation standards International accreditation standards represent the consensus of the Worldrepresent the consensus of the World

Compliance with the broader Compliance with the broader international standards will enhance international standards will enhance your quality system (management your quality system (management system)system)

Movement from the ASCLD/LAB Movement from the ASCLD/LAB Legacy standards to the international Legacy standards to the international standards is very manageablestandards is very manageable

Questions . . .

Questions Later . . .Questions Later . . .

John Neuner, Program John Neuner, Program ManagerManager

ASCLD/LAB-ASCLD/LAB-InternationalInternational

919-773-2600919-773-2600

jneuner@ascld-lab.orgjneuner@ascld-lab.org