ASCLD Train the Director – Quality Assurance: Beyond Accreditation

Accreditation and quality assurance are two terms that are commonly used within the forensic science community. Many forensic laboratory mission statements incorporate the word quality in some capacity. Some forensic science service providers have voluntarily participated in accreditation for decades, while others have just begun designing quality management systems and are on a path to becoming accredited. Laboratory accreditation is supported by many organizations, including ASCLD, the National Commission on Forensic Science, and the 2009 Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward report by the National Research Council.

In this webinar, the presenter discussed quality and accreditation, how they complement each other, and the ASCLD Accreditation Roadmap and Toolkit.  She also discussed the concepts of organizational transformation, organizational culture, and the cultivation of a quality culture in the laboratory. Lastly, she reviewed the various quality initiatives in forensic science, including ISO TC 272, the Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC) for Forensic Science, and the scientific and technical working groups (SWG/TWG).

Detailed Learning Objectives

1. Explain the difference between quality and accreditation.
2. Elaborate on the phrase “quality culture” and identify strategies to create one.
3. Describe the accrediting bodies, ISO TC 272, SWGs/TWGs, OSAC and how they collectively may improve quality in forensic science.