1. ASCLD/LAB Standards and Accreditation: Trace Evidence Discipline John K. Neuner Program Manager, ASCLD/LAB-International Trace Evidence Symposium August 2007 Clearwater Beach, Florida

2. Important Note Information provided in this presentation was current as of July 5, 2007 Information provided in this presentation was current as of July 5, 2007 Any significant changes since that date will be highlighted during the presentation Any significant changes since that date will be highlighted during the presentation

3. History of ASCLD/LAB Accreditation ASCLD/LAB began accrediting crime laboratories in 1982 ASCLD/LAB began accrediting crime laboratories in 1982 Accreditation to international standards (ISO/IEC 17025) became available through ASCLD/LAB in 2004 Accreditation to international standards (ISO/IEC 17025) became available through ASCLD/LAB in 2004 Accreditation in the Trace Evidence discipline available from the beginning in both programs Accreditation in the Trace Evidence discipline available from the beginning in both programs

4. History of ASCLD/LAB Accreditation 325 crime laboratories currently accredited by ASCLD/LAB (as of July 5, 2007) 325 crime laboratories currently accredited by ASCLD/LAB (as of July 5, 2007) Includes 173 state laboratories, 100 local agency laboratories, 22 federal laboratories, 10 laboratories outside the US and 20 private laboratories Includes 173 state laboratories, 100 local agency laboratories, 22 federal laboratories, 10 laboratories outside the US and 20 private laboratories 36 of the 325 crime laboratories are accredited under the ASCLD/LAB- International Program 36 of the 325 crime laboratories are accredited under the ASCLD/LAB- International Program

5. Trace Evidence Accreditation

7. Over the last ten years (1997 – 2007) Includes both ASCLD/LAB Legacy and ASCLD/LAB-International accredited laboratories

8. Over the last ten years (1997 – 2007) 86 laboratories accredited in Trace Evidence by 1997

9. Breakdown of 166 Legacy accredited laboratories Full Trace Evidence accreditation – 123 laboratories “Full” means working in 3 or more subdisciplines Limited Trace Evidence services – 7 laboratories “Limited” means working in 2 subdisciplines Hair only – 4 laboratories GSR only – 6 laboratories Fire Debris only – 17 laboratories Physical & elemental analysis only – 1 laboratory Impression Evidence only – 1 laboratory PDMS lubricant identification only – 1 laboratory Trace service currently suspended/dropped* – 6 laboratories * Usually due to loss of qualified personnel (retirement, transfer, etc.)

10. Breakdown of 13 ASCLD/LAB-International accredited laboratories No designation of “full” accreditation in the Trace Evidence discipline in the ISO-based program No designation of “full” accreditation in the Trace Evidence discipline in the ISO-based program Each laboratory receives a detailed “scope of accreditation” document which specifies all “categories of testing” in which accreditation has been granted Each laboratory receives a detailed “scope of accreditation” document which specifies all “categories of testing” in which accreditation has been granted ASCLD/LAB is further evaluating how to best identify categories of testing in the ASCLD/LAB-International program – current practices will likely change ASCLD/LAB is further evaluating how to best identify categories of testing in the ASCLD/LAB-International program – current practices will likely change

11. ASCLD/LAB-International Trace Evidence “areas” accredited to date Impression Evidence – 7 laboratories accredited Impression Evidence – 7 laboratories accredited Paint – 7 Paint – 7 Fibers and Textiles – 6 Fibers and Textiles – 6 Fire Debris – 6 Fire Debris – 6 Hair (microscopic examinations) – 6 Hair (microscopic examinations) – 6 Physical comparisons – 6 Physical comparisons – 6 Analysis of unknowns – 4 Analysis of unknowns – 4 Screening (Primary examinations) – 4 Screening (Primary examinations) – 4 Glass – 3 Glass – 3

12. ASCLD/LAB-International : continued Trace Evidence “areas” accredited to date Explosives – 2 Explosives – 2 Headlamp Examination – 2 Headlamp Examination – 2 Dye packs – 1 Dye packs – 1 GSR – 1 GSR – 1 Polymers – 1 Polymers – 1 Serial number restoration – 1 Serial number restoration – 1 Speedometer slaps – 1 Speedometer slaps – 1 Note – Breaking down to this level raises “sub-discipline” proficiency testing questions

13. New ASCLD/LAB “sub-discipline” proficiency testing requirement New requirement approved for the ASCLD/LAB Legacy program: Each Examiner must be proficiency tested at least once, during each five-year accreditation cycle, in each subdiscipline in which the examiner performs casework examinations and issues reports.

14. New ASCLD/LAB “sub-discipline” proficiency testing requirement The full application of the new proficiency testing requirement has not yet been decided for the ASCLD/LAB- International program The full application of the new proficiency testing requirement has not yet been decided for the ASCLD/LAB- International program ASCLD/LAB will first need to clarify (for the ASCLD/LAB-International program) the difference between “sub-discipline” and “category of testing” ASCLD/LAB will first need to clarify (for the ASCLD/LAB-International program) the difference between “sub-discipline” and “category of testing”

15. Movement to international standards ISO standards of accreditation are now being embraced by the US crime laboratory community ISO standards of accreditation are now being embraced by the US crime laboratory community The master requirements document is ISO/IEC 17025:2005 “General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories” The master requirements document is ISO/IEC 17025:2005 “General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories”

16. International accreditation standards ISO/IEC 17025:2005 is copyrighted by ISO and must be acquired from an authorized distributor ISO/IEC 17025:2005 is copyrighted by ISO and must be acquired from an authorized distributor American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is an authorized distributor www.ansi.org (there are others) American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is an authorized distributor www.ansi.org (there are others) www.ansi.org

17. International accreditation standards ISO/IEC 17025:2005 is amplified by the ASCLD/LAB-International Supplemental Requirements document ISO/IEC 17025:2005 is amplified by the ASCLD/LAB-International Supplemental Requirements document The “Supplemental Requirements” document is copyrighted by ASCLD/LAB and is available free to any laboratory interested in preparing for ASCLD/LAB- International accreditation The “Supplemental Requirements” document is copyrighted by ASCLD/LAB and is available free to any laboratory interested in preparing for ASCLD/LAB- International accreditation

18. Movement to international standards The ASCLD/LAB-International program was implemented in early 2004 The ASCLD/LAB-International program was implemented in early 2004 36 laboratories currently accredited 36 laboratories currently accredited 24 other laboratories in varying stages of the process 24 other laboratories in varying stages of the process Total of 60 laboratories currently engaged in the new program Total of 60 laboratories currently engaged in the new program

19. International accreditation standards International standards address all elements in the Legacy accreditation program International standards address all elements in the Legacy accreditation program International standards introduce a number of new elements International standards introduce a number of new elements

20. International accreditation standards New elements introduced Document control Document control Service to the customer Service to the customer Preventive actions Preventive actions Estimation of uncertainty of measurement Estimation of uncertainty of measurement Traceability (new to some disciplines) Traceability (new to some disciplines) Reporting requirements Reporting requirements

21. International accreditation standards International accreditation standards represent the consensus of the World International accreditation standards represent the consensus of the World Compliance with the broader international standards will enhance your quality system (management system) Compliance with the broader international standards will enhance your quality system (management system) Movement from the ASCLD/LAB Legacy standards to the international standards is very manageable Movement from the ASCLD/LAB Legacy standards to the international standards is very manageable

22. Questions...

23. Questions Later... John Neuner, Program Manager ASCLD/LAB-International 919-773-2600 jneuner@ascld-lab.org