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 July 5, presentation was current as of July 5, 20072007

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

History of ASCLD/LAB AccreditationHistory of ASCLD/LAB Accreditation

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

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

Accreditation in the Trace Evidence discipline Accreditation in the Trace Evidence discipline available from the beginning in both available from the beginning in both programsprograms

History of ASCLD/LAB AccreditationHistory of ASCLD/LAB Accreditation

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

Includes 173 state laboratories, 100 local Includes 173 state laboratories, 100 local agency laboratories, 22 federal laboratories, agency laboratories, 22 federal laboratories, 10 laboratories outside the US and 20 10 laboratories outside the US and 20 private laboratoriesprivate 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 AccreditationTrace Evidence Accreditation

289

36

166

130

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

Leg acy Program Internati ona l Program

All labor atori es

Accreditation i nclude sTrace Evidence

Trace Evidence AccreditationTrace Evidence Accreditation

325

181

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

All labor atori es Accreditation i ncl ude sTrace Evidence

ASCLD/LAB AccreditedLab orator ies

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

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

New accred itations since 19 97in one or mo re area of the Trace Evidence di scipl ine

79 8

5

14 15

6

11

52

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 laboratories – 6 laboratories

* 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 accredited laboratorieslaboratories

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

ASCLD/LAB-ASCLD/LAB-InternationalInternationalTrace Evidence “areas” accredited to dateTrace Evidence “areas” accredited to date

Impression Evidence – 7 laboratories accreditedImpression Evidence – 7 laboratories accredited 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 dateTrace Evidence “areas” accredited to date

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

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

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

Each Examiner must be proficiency tested Each Examiner must be proficiency tested at least once, during each five-year at least once, during each five-year accreditation cycle, in each subdiscipline accreditation cycle, in each subdiscipline in which the examiner performs casework in which the examiner performs casework examinations and issues reports.examinations and 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 not proficiency testing requirement has not yet been decided for the ASCLD/LAB-yet been decided for the ASCLD/LAB-International International programprogram

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

Movement to international standardsMovement to international standards

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

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

International accreditation standardsInternational accreditation standards

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

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

International accreditation standardsInternational accreditation standards

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

Movement to international standardsMovement to international standards

The ASCLD/LAB-The ASCLD/LAB-InternationalInternational program program was implemented in early 2004was implemented in early 2004

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

of the processof the process Total of 60 laboratories currently Total of 60 laboratories currently

engaged in the new programengaged in the new program

International accreditation standardsInternational accreditation standards

International standards address all International standards address all elements in the Legacy accreditation elements in the Legacy accreditation programprogram

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

International accreditation standards International accreditation standards New elements introducedNew elements introduced

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 disciplines)Traceability (new to some disciplines) Reporting requirements Reporting requirements

International accreditation standardsInternational accreditation standards

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

Questions . . .

Questions Later . . .Questions Later . . .

John Neuner, Program ManagerJohn Neuner, Program ManagerASCLD/LAB-ASCLD/LAB-InternationalInternational919-773-2600919-773-2600jneuner@ascld-lab.orgjneuner@ascld-lab.org