Chapter 24: Quality Assurance & Quality Control

Quality Assurance: Processes that provide confidence that a service meets the requirements for the quality of a laboratory service

Addresses: Training & Education Calibration of equipment Handling procedures Proficiency testing

Quality Control: operational procedures

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National Research Council (NRC)DNA Advisory BoardScientific Working Group on DNA

Analysis Methods (SWGDAM)

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International Soc. For Forensic Genetics

European DNA Profiling GroupEuropean Network of Forensic

Science Institutes Interpol working partyEuropean Standard Set

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Used to asses the qualification of a lab to meet est. standards

Voluntary in U.S. American Society of Crime Laboratory

Directors/Lab Accreditation Board (ASCLD/LAB)

Nat. Forensic Science Training Center American Assoc. of Blood Banks

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Performance of individual DNA analyst

Every 6 monthsMock casesCertification

Voluntary American Board of Criminalistics (ABC)▪ Diplomate, Fellow, Technical Specialist

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Min. BS/BA degree in Biology, Chemistry, or Forensic Science related area

6 months forensic lab work experience

Coursework in: Biochemistry Genetics Molecular Biology

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